The National Committee on Livestock Reforms, led by the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has proposed the establishment of a separate Ministry of Livestock, distinct from the Ministry of Agriculture.
This recommendation aims to address the persistent conflicts between farmers and herders while facilitating future reforms in the livestock industry.
Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, led the committee members to the Presidential Villa to present a report detailing their recommendations.
He emphasized that such a ministry would help resolve the long-standing disputes between herders and farmers and contribute to the development of the livestock sector.
The urgency for these recommendations arises from the need to reform and enhance the livestock industry in Nigeria and find solutions to the ongoing conflicts between herders and farmers.
The low productivity of the sector has led Nigeria to become dependent on imports for dairy, meat, and other livestock products, depleting foreign reserves.
Ganduje stated, “The conflicts are resulting in killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country. With increasing populations, ecological changes such as soil erosion and degradation of grazing areas, and changing climates, adopting innovative crops and livestock production practices is no longer a luxury but an essential investment that this people-centered administration needs to vigorously pursue.”
