The Presidential Committee on Livestock Sector Reforms Implementation has submitted its inception report to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
After the meeting, Committee Chairman and former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, spoke to journalists, revealing that the report outlines strategies for the Nigerian government to effectively harness the livestock industry. The 152-page document also offers solutions for reducing the ongoing farmer-herder conflicts across the country.
Jega emphasized that immediately banning open grazing would be counterproductive, as pastoralism is a traditional practice. Instead, the committee recommends a phased approach, allowing both ranching and open grazing to coexist in the short term. This would provide time for raising awareness and developing the necessary infrastructure to support the full adoption of ranching.
The report proposes a ten-year plan to significantly improve all aspects of livestock management in Nigeria. It also advocates for the adoption of modern technologies in livestock production.
Additionally, Jega stated that the report offers detailed guidelines for the operations of the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock, which President Tinubu recently announced.
The report is expected to be made public soon to allow for broader public input. President Tinubu inaugurated the committee in July to tackle obstacles to agricultural productivity and create opportunities for stakeholders in the livestock farming value chain, including farmers, herders, processors, and distributors.