President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee to reform the livestock industry and to provide long-term solutions to recurring clashes between herders and farmers in the country.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President announced the establishment of the committee on Thursday in Abuja.
The President gave the approval following the submission of a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.
The statement further read that the committee was expected to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
According to the statement, the President said, “Out of every tragedy, if you are careful, you will see an opportunity. We have faced this conflict for some time. We know it is a homegrown problem. It is very hard for people to stay away from their traditional, old ways.
“It is not the fault of herders and farmers that this crisis has persisted. It is the fault of the leadership who failed to find immediate solutions to solve their problems. Leadership is about thinking and doing.”
President Tinubu noted that this development will provide “gainful employment for veterinary doctors and establishment of new medical facilities, while opening doors for the private sector as the provision of new educational opportunities for herders and their children emerge.”
