Pastoralists Pledge Support For Tinubu’s Livestock Reforms

Gabi HIbbatullah 

Pastoralist organisations in Nigeria have pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s livestock reforms, expressing appreciation to the federal government for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development.

The pledge was made on Saturday at a national thank-you rally organised by a coalition of pastoralist organisations, with representatives of state governments, livestock farmers, ranchers, processors, marketers and commodity associations in attendance.

At the event, the minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the establishment of the ministry in July 2024 as a major milestone in efforts to give the sector dedicated attention at the federal level.

He urged pastoralists, livestock farmers, ranchers, dairy farmers, traders and other stakeholders to take ownership of the ministry and work with the government to improve their livelihoods.

“Livestock farmers, pastoralists, ranchers, dairy farmers, livestock traders, dealers, transporters, butchers, processors and marketers, this is your own ministry. Take it, own it and use it to improve your livelihood, build peace, harmony and shared prosperity,” Maiha said.

The minister disclosed that seven modern veterinary hospitals had been completed, while 14 others were at various stages of development.

He said the ministry was also implementing interventions in veterinary infrastructure, animal disease control, pasture and fodder development, livestock breeding and dairy production.

Maiha called on livestock associations to work with the ministry and state governments to identify challenges affecting their members and develop proposals to improve service delivery.

He also urged stakeholders to promote dialogue, responsible management of land and water resources, and peaceful resolution of disputes to prevent farmer-herder conflicts.

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Murtala Mohammed Dabo, commended Tinubu for establishing the ministry and praised its efforts to reposition the livestock sector.

Sani said his administration had introduced interventions, including solar-powered water facilities for pastoralist communities, livestock vaccination, artificial insemination, pasture development and improvements to abattoirs.

He described pastoralists as partners in livestock development, rather than a source of conflict.

The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said the establishment of the ministry fulfilled a longstanding demand by pastoralist communities for dedicated government attention to the sector.

He attributed persistent farmer-herder tensions and other security challenges, including cattle rustling, kidnapping and banditry, partly to years of neglect of the livestock sector.

Ngelzarma said peacebuilding should be a shared responsibility between farmers and pastoralists.

“The Ministry was created specifically to address the issue of peacebuilding, and that is what the Minister is doing. Peacebuilding is our concern. It is not only the concern of the farmers; it is also our concern,” he said.

Similarly, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Pulaku Yeso Yeso Development Association (MAFYDA), Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, commended Maiha for his commitment to livestock sector reforms and urged stakeholders to sustain their support for the administration.

The President of the Federation of Agricultural and Commodity Associations of Nigeria, Sherif Balogun, who represents more than 65 commodity associations, also expressed support for the reforms, citing opportunities to improve productivity and expand businesses for agricultural exporters and processors.

Other pastoralist representatives called for sustained government efforts to protect livestock assets, improve pastoralist livelihoods and expand economic opportunities across the livestock value chain.

At the end of the rally, the coalition presented a traditional Fulani hat to Tinubu as a token of appreciation for establishing the ministry. Maiha received the gift on behalf of the President.