By Yemi Olakitan
The appointment of a Presidential Committee to overhaul the nation’s livestock business and find long-term solutions to the country’s recurrent conflicts between farmers and herders has been approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Following the submission of a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria, the President announced the creation of the Committee in a statement made by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday in Abuja.
Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, a former executive governor of Kano State and chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), called the conference.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would work with the Committee, the President said, and suggestions will be made to promote a peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while maintaining the safety and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
“The Federal Government is ready and willing to pay for the land’s acquisition costs. As new educational prospects for herders’ children and themselves arise, these opportunities will give our veterinarians gainful employment while also creating doors for the private sector. A medical infrastructure will be built. We have an opportunity that could change our lives.
“Consider if we could supply our schoolchildren with enough milk. Imagine that we start to export cheese and yoghurt on a net basis. Think about how much skin we could produce if Nigeria had a significant leather industry. Think about the jobs we could create by offering cold storage facilities around the country. The President asserted that these things are now feasible.
President Tinubu praised Ganduje for bringing together the top thinkers and specialists to address the enduring problems between pastoralists and farmers.
He also commended the committee members for their painstaking effort in delving into the intricate problems pertaining to security, land usage, and livestock management.
“If you look carefully, you can find an opportunity in every tragedy. This conflict has been present for some time. We are aware that it is a domestic issue. People find it quite difficult to abandon their conventional, established habits.
“In 2018, I made an effort to solve this issue, but it was unsuccessful. However, I’ve been advised to never lose up, and as of today, I think the answer is in front of us,” the President said, referring to the committee report’s suggestions.
“The persistence of this situation is not the responsibility of farmers and herders. It is the leadership’s fault for not coming up with quick fixes to their issues. Thinking and acting are the two pillars of leadership,” he stated.
In his remarks, Ganduje recalled that he had hosted the National Conference while serving as the governor of Kano State as part of a deliberate effort to support the modernization of livestock production while enhancing the ability of local authorities to manage interactions and peacefully resolve disputes between herders and farmers.
Throughout his eight years in power, he stated that Kano has remained one of the most tranquil states in the nation.
“Mr. President, I firmly believe that the Report brought before you today has the solution to the issues facing the livestock business. It discusses the crucial reforms and offers numerous choices for development necessary for the sector’s sustained growth.
“Implementing the ideas will increase productivity, improve livelihoods, encourage environmental conservation, address key factors contributing to conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, and lower the cost of importing animal products like milk and meat.” He said.
