By Emmanuel Nduka
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Heritage Times HT reports that the move is expected to appease the perennial clashes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.
President Tinubu approved the creation of the ministry on Tuesday when he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
“Who says the solution is far? I say, ‘No, the solution is here.’ Majority of you have great experience and you want Nigeria to prosper.
“To enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, we have seen the solution and opportunity for this adversity that has plagued us over the years and I believe the prosperity is here in our hands,” President Tinubu said.
With the move, the Nigerian President says the country can now look forward to “maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farm to market thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a stable supply”.
He said his administration is now fully prepared to cover the cost of acquiring lands to ensure the peaceful co-existence of herders and farmers.
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega will deputize President Tinubu as Chairman of the Committee on Livestock Reforms.
The committee is expected to propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.
Tinubu’s announcement comes 10 months after he approved the establishment of the presidential committee to address herders and farmers’ clashes and bolster livestock and dairy industries.
He set up the committee after receiving a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.
The committee, chaired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, gave President Tinubu 21 recommendations, including creating a Ministry of Livestock Resources.
Heritage Times HT reports that the creation of the ministry is the latest attempt by the Nigerian government to address the decades-long conflict between herders and farmers over access to land, pasture and water.
Before Tinubu, past governments have reeled out a raft of measures including the highly controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA), all of which failed to address the perennial conflicts which has displaced scores and claimed hundreds of lives.
