By: Ade Phillips
Reactions have been mixed following President Bola Tinubu’s establishment of the new Ministry of Livestock Development, Starnews NG reports.
Amid escalating food prices, the new ministry was approved, and the President inaugurated the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee aims to provide sector-specific solutions to the long-standing farmers-herders conflict.
Starnews NG reports that the farmers-herders crisis has forced many farmers to abandon their land due to ongoing violence, which has significantly impacted Nigeria’s food supply.
President Tinubu stated that the creation of the ministry aims to address this issue. However, the announcement has received varied reactions from Nigerians.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) welcomed the government’s decision, seeing it as a way to enhance foreign exchange earnings through livestock production and to address security issues related to the farmer-herder conflicts.
“MACBAN expressed its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renew Hope Agenda,” the association stated.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) President, Kabir Ibrahim, also welcomed the announcement but expressed caution, noting that the effectiveness of the ministry would depend on its implementation.
“While this development is very welcome as the livestock sector has long been neglected, it’s premature to celebrate just yet. Inaugurating the ministry is one step; establishing and operationalizing it effectively is another,” Ibrahim stated.
He added, “It means dividing the current Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, setting up the necessary machinery, and granting legislative powers. Let’s wait and see how it goes before celebrating.”
Engr. Daniel Ijeh, CEO of EA Daniel Farms, praised the move as addressing a long-standing conflict that previous administrations failed to resolve. However, he emphasized that managing herders trespassing and damaging crops would require action from State and Local governments.
A community stakeholder, Ajayi Kolawole, expressed scepticism about the new ministry’s ability to alleviate the country’s hardship. He pointed to the high cost of living and food prices, suggesting that fixing refineries and diversifying the economy might be more effective solutions.
“Don’t let me deceive you, this new initiative won’t resolve hunger. The president should look into how to fix the refinery and diversify. Things are costly; we can’t buy food to eat, so I don’t see this as the solution,” Kolawole said.
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