Livestock reforms: Jega submits report to Tinubu

…recommends gradual phase out of open grazing

KUNLE SANNI

The Presidential Committee on Livestock Sector Reforms, on Thursday presented its report to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

The submission marked a key step in the government’s efforts to revamping Nigeria’s livestock industry as the government views the sector as critical to boosting agricultural development and ensuring food security.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Committee Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, highlighted the committee’s recommendations on how the government could harness the livestock sector for economic growth and resolve conflicts between farmers and herders.

The 152-page report proposes strategies to mitigate the ongoing clashes between farmers and herders, recommending a phased approach rather than an abrupt ban on open grazing.

Jega explained that while full-scale ranching is the long-term goal, both ranching and traditional open grazing should be allowed to coexist in the short term, adding ” It would provide time to raise public awareness and build the necessary infrastructure to support a complete transition to ranching”.

The Committee outlined a 10-year roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector. This plan emphasizes the adoption of modern technologies to improve livestock production and recommends detailed operational guidelines for the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock, recently created by President Tinubu to oversee reforms in the sector.

Jega also revealed that the report would soon be made public to gather additional feedback from Nigerians.

The committee, which was inaugurated by President Tinubu in July, aims to address barriers to agricultural productivity and unlock new opportunities for stakeholders across the livestock value chain, including farmers, herders, processors, and distributors.