The Presidential Committee on Livestock Sector Reforms Implementation submitted its report to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.
In their 152-page report, the committee—which was chaired by Professor Attahiru Jega—made far-reaching suggestions to the Nigerian government on the growth of the cattle business, including steps to lessen conflicts between farmers and herders nationwide.Â
The committee believes that stopping open grazing as a traditional pastoralism method immediately would be counterproductive. However, both ranching and open grazing can coexist in the short term, until there is sufficient awareness and infrastructure to support a strictly ranching-only livestock policy.
The committee prescribed a ten-year plan to guide the government in improving all aspects of livestock business in Nigeria including the adoption of modern technologies in livestock production.Â
Comprehensive guidelines for the functioning of the recently established Federal Ministry of Livestock were also included in the study.
The committee’s report is expected to be made public soon for public input on the contentious issue that has split regions and communities in Nigeria for decades.
In the last fifteen years at least, tens of thousands of people have been killed in clashes between nomadic cattle herders and farmers, adding significantly also to Nigeria’s food insecurity.
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