- Miyetti Allah, Sani Hails Tinubu, Laolu Akande, Others Kick
The creation of a Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Tinubu has been greeted with knocks and kudos from different quarters.
While some stakeholders like Miyetti Allah, and Kaduna Senator Shehu Sanni have hailed the development, it has been greeted with condemnation from other like Chief Laolu Akande, ex-aide to former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo amongst others.
The Matrix reports that President Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated a committee to implement his government’s livestock policy.
At the event at the State House in Abuja, the president announced that he would chair the committee, and Attahiru Jega, a former election chief, would be his deputy and co-chairperson while also announcing the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The Nigerian leader said he believes the work of the committee and the eventual ministry will lead to increased meat and dairy production as well as reduce the violence between herders and farmers which has led to thousands of deaths in many states.
Hear him; “This presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a separate ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. We will develop the economy, give people the opportunity to excel. Our vet doctors can give us the necessary opportunity to rear, crossbreed and stop the wanton killings, even animal feeds is a huge economy.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby inaugurate the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee in Nigeria. It is now in your hands. We are ready to work for success of this programme and for the success of the entire nation. So, we leave a Nigerian flag without stain to our children. Thank you very much” the president had said t the occasion.
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Since the announcement was made, several reactions have been pouring in.
One of those quick to react was the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) who hailed President Tinubu for establishing the ministry.
According to Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, the president of MACBAN, he noted that the creation of the ministry would unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy.
He sai; “On behalf of the Chairman and members Board of Trustees of MACBAN, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and entire members of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria across the nation, we heartily congratulate the President and commander-in-chief of the Nigerian armed forces for this wonderful development.”
Similarly, Shehu Sani, a former senator who represented Kaduna Central in the national assembly, said the decision of President Tinubu to establish the ministry of livestock development “is a good idea”.
Sani expressed hope that with this development, there would be no more territorial conflicts.
However, the development also attracted some opposition.
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Akande, a former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says with some policies already in place, Nigeria may not need a ministry of livestock development.
But Laolu said though a lack of will and expertise are hindering the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NTLP), the country may not need another ministry for livestock.
“I am not sure that we need a ministry [of livestock,” Laolu said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“Based on what is available to me now, I am not entirely certain that we would need a ministry to do this [curb farmers-herders clashes]. But let’s wait for more details.”
Similarly, a development consultant Jide Ojo who was also featured on the programme, questioned the creation of the ministry, saying funding may be an issue.
“If the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development will solve this crisis [herders-farmers], so be it. But I am just worried about funding,” he said.
He argued that the new ministry may create a conflict of interest with the already existing Ministry of Agriculture.
