Lifestock reform: Jega submits recommendations to Tinubu

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, presented to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday a 152-page report detailing reform measures for the livestock sector in the country.

This came as the livestock sector is said to hold a N1.7 trillion potential in the value chains.

Part of the report recommended a ten-year transformation process through which Nigerians and the government can harness gains in the sector.

Jega was appointed the Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee in July this year.

The report also includes operational guidelines for the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, a new ministry created by the Tinubu administration recently.

The 152-page document also includes recommendations on how best issues that result in farmers-herders crisis can be resolved amicably.

The Jega committee equally recommended that livestock grazing and ranching will continue side by side, while the country promote a long term objective of having intensive livestock sector.

Briefing newsmen after, Prof Jega took a swipe at Nigerians who associate livestock to the farmers-herders crisis, stressing that the sector holds enormous potential for investment opportunities.

Director of National Project Coordinator Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Winnie Lai-Solarin disclosed that the poultry sector alone holds a N1.7 trillion potentials, especially in the value chains.

While inaugurating the Committee, Tinubu insisted that livestock reform had become necessary to open up new opportunities to benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain.

Tinubu had also emphasised that the implementation of the reforms would require the collective efforts of members of the committee, drawn from the public and private sectors, state governors, and others.

He had cautioned them to remove every iota of partisan politics from it.

“This is not about politics; this is about opportunity. This is about our nation. While I may be absent, Jega will preside and continue to promote our objectives,” the president stated.

Tinubu also used the opportunity to announce that a Ministry of Livestock Development would be created to explore the potential in the area.

“When we have great opportunities in our states, why should Nigerians continue to experience conflicts?

“With the calibre of people that are here, this presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a centric ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development.

“It will give us the opportunity so that our veterinary doctors can have the necessary access to research and cross-breed. We can stop the wanton killings,” Tinubu said.

He said that the traditional method of livestock farming needs to be repositioned with the support of state governments to open up new opportunities for growth and prosperity.