•C’ttee recommends creation of livestock resources ministry, want grazing reserves revived
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met a delegation led by the Chairman of the All Progressivss Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, where a document containing key recommendations on quelling farmer-herder clashes nationwide is to be presented.
The delegation had the service chiefs.
The meeting was convened to discuss solutions to the protracted clashes between farmers and herders in parts of the country.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Zacch Adedeji, his Special Adviser on revenue as acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with immediate effect.
He directed the former chairman, Muhammad Nami, to proceed on three months of pre-retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, with immediate effect, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.
Adedeji is to act in his new capacity for a 90-day period before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four years in the first instance.
In order to, among other things, minimise the bloody confrontation between farmers and nomadic herders across the country, the National Livestock Reforms Committee has suggested the establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Resources .
This was part of 21 recommendations captured in a document submitted by committee to President Bola Tinubu to enhance the Federal Government’s holistic response to the lingering cases of bloodshed.
Ganduje, disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after he led the committee in an audience with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The report committee was chaired by the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega.
Its members include those from the organised private sector, academia, practising pastoralists and farmers, representatives of farming and pastoralist communities, civil society organisations and specialists in various fields of livestock development and conflicts management.
The committee also advocated a reform agenda examining conflict mitigation and resource management.
“This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” the document read in parts.
The APC chairman bemoaned the fact that Nigeria had become import-dependent as a result of the sector’s low productivity, using up limited foreign reserves to pay for importation of dairy, meat, and other livestock goods.
Similarly, he said the conflicts are resulting in killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country.
“It is gratifying to lead this team of patriotic Nigerians and experts in various fields of human endeavour before Mr. President to present the national conference report on livestock reforms.
“The Report 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.
“But to find the solution to achieve the desired goals, you’ll need a strong institution. We recommended the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies so that various aspects of the recommendations will have appropriate institutions for implementation,” he said.
Ganduje further noted that the committee also recommended a funding source, including inflows from international organisations, the private sector and the government.
On the outcome of the meeting, the former Kano Governor said President Tinubu had assured them of his readiness to consider the recommendation and provide fitting solutions.
“The answer we got is that Mr. President is ready to provide the solution to these problems, especially pertaining to the economy of the livestock and then the security aspects of the herders-farmers’ conflict,” he said.
At the meeting, he told the President that Nigeria’s increasing population, ecological changes such as soil erosion, degradation of grazing areas, and changing climates necessitate adopting innovative crops and livestock production practices.
He also informed Tinubu that the report submitted to him holds the antidote to the problems of the livestock industry, adding, “It addresses the key reforms and presents various development options needed for the sustainable development of the sector.”
Ganduje said that implementing the proposals will enhance productivity, improve livelihoods, promote environmental conservation, address substantial causes of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, and help reduce the high cost of imports of animal products like milk and beef.
He said as Kano State Governor, his administration deliberately promoted the modernisation of livestock production while strengthening local authorities to manage relationships and amicably resolve conflicts between the groups.
“For this reason, Kano State remained among the most peaceful States in the country throughout our eight years of governance,” he affirmed.