Obasempire reports that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has praised President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, the organization’s leader, expressed that the ministry would unleash the multi-billion naira livestock economy and generate high-quality and efficient employment opportunities throughout the livestock value chain, thereby enhancing the Nigerian economy.
“With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renew Hope Agenda. The promise made by President Tinubu, to raise the productive capacity of Nigerian agriculture to ensure food security is being fulfilled.
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“We, as an association, had for years been agitating tooth and nail to actualize the creation of a stand-alone ministry to modernise livestock production systems in line with global best practices,” he said.
Othman-Ngelzarma pledged support to the federal government to turn livestock production into a foreign exchange earner, and reduce the farmer/ herder conflicts and its related security challenges.
According to him, Nigerian pastoralists appreciate this historic development, adding that they would reciprocate the gesture.
“On behalf of chairman and members Board of trustees of MACBAN, his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and entire members of Cattle Breeders association of Nigeria across the nation heartily congratulate the President and Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed forces for this wonderful development.”
President Tinubu, yesterday, announced the creation of the ministry in a bid to reform Nigeria’s livestock industry and provide long-term solutions to recurring clashes between herders and farmers.
A new minister for the ministry which will bring the number of ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet to 49, will be announced soon.
Tinubu made the announcement while inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms.
Established in September 2023, the committee which is now named the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee, is expected to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to develop recommendations aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
The establishment of the Committee followed the submission of a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria, convened by the former Governor of Kano State and Chairman of All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, last year.
During the inauguration, the president also announced a reshufflement within the committee. Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega, has been named co-chair, while the president will serve as the committee’s chair, a position previously held by Ganduje.
The President emphasised that the solution to the long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders is at hand, with the distinguished personalities and their collective experience on the committee.
He stated that the livestock and dairy industry offers substantial commercial and economic advantages that can boost agricultural productivity, enhance export opportunities, and stimulate economic growth.
Tinubu thanked Ganduje for convening the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria, whose recommendations informed the decision to constitute the presidential committee.
The President, while announcing the appointment of Jega as the co-chair of the committee, said he wants to remove any element of partisan politics to ensure the focus remains on the opportunity to create wealth and better the lives of Nigerians.
Tinubu also announced the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development, stating that this presents a unique opportunity to delineate and establish a separate ministry to develop the economy and give people the opportunity to excel in the livestock and dairy industry.
He emphasised the need to utilize available technologies, such as herd identification with chips and tracking, to support the implementation of the livestock reforms. He also called on the Attorney General, Budget and Economic Planning Minister, and Finance Minister to prioritize and provide the necessary legal, budgetary, and financial support for the successful implementation of the committee’s objectives.
Tinubu expressed his confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver on the livestock reforms and create a prosperous future for Nigeria.
He said: “I’m here before you to inaugurate the committee for the implementation of the livestock in our beloved country. First, I must say thank you very much to those who said the solution is far, I said no, the solution is here. With these distinguished personalities, the name, the intellectual capacity, majority of you have great experience and you want Nigeria to prosper.
“First and foremost, to provide impetus to enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, dairy products, cold chain logistics, collectively offers substantial commercial and economic advantages.
“We have seen the solution and opportunity, with this adversity that has plagued us over the years, and I believe the prosperity is here in your hands.
“The dairy industry contributes significantly to nutrition and food security that supply essential proteins and vitamins through milk and its derivatives such as cheese, yoghurt, butter and economic advantages. Efficient cold-chain logistics are crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farm to market, thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a steady supply.
“This sector will boost agricultural productivity, enhance export opportunities and stimulate economic growth by fostering a robust value chain that benefits farmers, processors, herders, distributors and consumers alike.
“Let me take advantage of the presence here, to thank the former executive governor of Kano State and the chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje for assembling the best minds and experts to find solution by convening national conference on livestock reforms and mitigation of associate conflicts in Nigeria in February last here. The far reaching recommendation in their report informed our decision to constitute and inaugurate this presidential committee on the implementation of livestock reforms and cease the great opportunity to better the lives of our people, rather than the conflict promoted agenda.
“It is our renewed hope and I believe that hope is here in trying to see a great opportunity for wealth in a situation that is very conducive. I must mention here that I have discussed on a number of occasions with the governors the need to seize this opportunity, let’s run with it from here.
“At this juncture, I will appeal to remove everything of partisan politics from it, assume the chairmanship of the committee as the president and appointed Professor Attahiru Jega as my deputy or co-chair. And I asked Dr Ganduje, we say thank you, just remove yourself so that anything of politics in this environment will be erased completely. This is not about politics, this is about opportunity, this is about our nation. So, while I may be absent, Jega will preside and contribute to promote.
“We’ve solved the problem, we have identified the models for livestock management, it is done in other countries, in other climes successfully promoted. It created a great economy and empowerment for ordinary people.
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“Traditional livestock system must be reformed to add significant and sustainable value to Nigeria’s social economic growth and development. With all measures that are available to us.
“I don’t want us to turn this environment to another talk opportunity, I just want to inaugurate this community to ensure that I am ready. I assure you and the Nigerian public that we need to create this economy, seize this opportunity. These ranches you recommend, and promote, I will work with it. And luckily, we have information and technology minister present too, herds of cows can be identified with chips and be tracked these days. If other technologies are available to us, we are ready to work. As I said from the beginning, with you, all of you, the solution is here and we must run with it.
“The governors are hereby represented, any law that might inhibit the promotion and the actualization of our objective, the Attorney General is here, please give it a priority and budget and economic planning minister is here, find a budget head for it to grow and finance is here as well to work hard for the money.
“When you have a great opportunity like this, why should Nigeria continue in conflict with the caliber of the people that are here?
“This presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a separate ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. We will develop the economy, give people the opportunity to excel. Our vet doctors can give us the necessary opportunity to rear, crossbreed and stop the wanton killings, even animal feeds is a huge economy,” he said.
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