The creation of a separate ministry of livestock out of the ministry of agriculture has been identified as a permanent solution to end the incessant herders and farmers clashes in the country. This is one of the recommendations of the National Committee on Livestock Reforms, in a report presented to President Bola Tinubu.
The committee, led by former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, noted that the recommendations to the Presidency 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. He stated that such ministry would end the incessant acrimony, between farmers and herders, including paving future reforms for the livestock industry. Ganduje, stated that the low productivity of the sector had made Nigeria an import dependent economy, draining scarce foreign reserves used for importing dairy, meat and other livestock products.
The conflicts had resulted in the killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, it is also affecting peaceful coexistence in the country. However, the National President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Architect Kabir Ibrahim, has expressed happiness on the submission of report and blueprint on Livestock Reforms in Nigeria to President Bola Tinubu, stating that farmer-herder conflicts across the country portend serious threat to the attainment of food security in Nigeria. Ibrahim, who is also a member of committee, which organised the National Conference on Livestock Reform in Nigeria earlier in the year, noted that President Tinubu had promised to use the report to reinvigorate the livestock sector and bring about lasting solution to the perennial farmer-herder conflicts affecting the optimum performance of the small holder farmers in Nigeria.
“As we have continuously espoused this as a serious threat factor to Nigeria’s attainment of food security, the recommendations of the committee portend the possible solution being sought. We implore all of you to support the process to bring about lasting peace, between farmers and herders who are all members of AFAN. We promise to continue to lead AFAN to greater heights, so we crave for your continued understanding and unflinching support as always”, he stated further.
