President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development as part of his agricultural sector’s reform initiatives aimed at boosting livestock production and by implication, reduce the rate of meat, chicken and fish importation to the country
The President made the announcement during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee constituted to address the issue of farmers-herders crisis, among other mandates.
It would be recalled that Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, had on Monday hinted that the Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee would be responsible for developing and implementing policies that prioritize livestock production and ensure alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The minister maintained that the government would enhance nutrition security through “the promotion of production of fortified food commodities and offer necessary support to scale up the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The creation of the ministry came barely three weeks after Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) demanded for the ministry in furtherance of their agitation for improved funding of livestock production and protection of their members.
The association’s President, Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, made the demand on the grounds that pastoralists were facing challenges in breeding their livestock as farmer-pastoralists clashes remained unabated across the geopolitical zones.
