President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development, aiming to address the protracted farmers-herders conflict in Nigeria.
This announcement was made during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The committee is tasked with devising sector-specific solutions to the longstanding farmers-herders crisis.
This initiative follows a recommendation by the National Livestock Reforms Committee on September 14, 2023, which advised the creation of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to mitigate the decades-long conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide.
Former Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, shared this development with State House Correspondents after leading the committee in a meeting with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The committee presented 21 recommendations aimed at enhancing the Federal Government’s response to ongoing conflicts.
The document outlined proposed solutions, including conflict mitigation and resource management reforms. “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilization,” it reads.
Additionally, it advocated for the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Resources or, alternatively, the expansion of existing Departments of Livestock Production to meet the broader needs of the industry.
Ganduje highlighted the complexity of the challenge, noting the need to address the diverse categories of herders: settled herders, nomadic herdsmen traversing the country, herders from neighbouring West African countries, and those who have settled among certain ethnic tribes.
He expressed concern over the sector’s low productivity, which has made Nigeria reliant on imports, thus draining foreign reserves on dairy, meat, and other livestock products.
He also lamented the conflicts resulting in loss of lives and livelihoods, which further disrupts peaceful coexistence in the country.
“The Report grew out of the urgent need to reform and develop the livestock industry and to provide solutions to the age-long conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria. But to find the solution to achieve the desired goals, you’ll need a strong institution,” Ganduje explained.
The committee recommended establishing the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies to ensure proper implementation of various recommendations.
It also proposed a funding source, which includes inflows from international organizations, the private sector, and the government.
Ganduje concluded, “We recommended the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies so that various aspects of the recommendations will have appropriate institutions for implementation.”
