President Bola Tinubu is slated to receive the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms on August 7, 2024, unless there are unforeseen changes in plans.
Speaking to State House correspondents after updating the President at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Professor Attahiru Jega, co-chairman of the committee and former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, indicated that the report presentation is expected within the next two weeks.
President Tinubu, during a briefing on July 9, hinted at the establishment of a new Ministry of Livestock Development as part of efforts to address prolonged conflicts between herders and farmers.
As the Chair of the committee, Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms with a focus on implementing recommendations for ranching and other livestock reforms to enhance the economy.
At the committee’s inauguration at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu appointed Jega as the co-chairman and emphasized the significance of creating the Ministry of Livestock Development for economic development purposes.
Jega, in his update on Wednesday, highlighted the progress made by the committee since its inauguration and expressed optimism about the positive impact the recommendations could have on the livestock sector and in resolving associated crises and conflicts.
Sector stakeholders, including Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, are eager for the proposed recommendations to be reviewed and implemented promptly.
The National Livestock Reforms Committee had earlier recommended the establishment of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to President Tinubu in September, as part of broader measures to address the farmer-herder crisis and enhance resource management in the industry.
Tinubu reiterated the potential benefits of livestock reforms in improving agricultural productivity, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing economic growth through a more efficient livestock value chain.