Shaking Things Up: The National Economic Council Proposes Modern Livestock Practices for Nigeria
Discussion Topics at NEC Meeting Involving Vice President Shettima, Oborevwori, Okpebholo, and Other Governors
Vice President Kashim Shettima and the National Economic Council (NEC) have decided it's high time for Nigeria to ditch old-school livestock management and embrace modern practices. This decision came during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, amid increasing violence in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kwara.
The gathering saw the attendance of notable figures like Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently made headlines for his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside governors such as Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River. Deputy governors from various states were also present to contribute to the proceedings.
After the meeting, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, shared his thoughts with the press, emphasizing the council’s dedication to modernizing livestock production in Nigeria. He stated, “The council stresses the fact that we cannot continue to live in the past, and we must now work towards modernizing livestock production in Nigeria.”
The current livestock practices, as highlighted by Diri, are contributing to friction between farmers and herders in various regions. To address this issue, the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development has developed the Accelerated Livestock Development and Growth Strategy. This strategy aims to boost income from the livestock sector to between $70 billion and $90 billion by 2035.
Clashes between herders and farmers, particularly over land use, are common in central Nigeria. In response to the recent attacks in Ukum and Logo local government areas, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, pointed the finger at "suspected herdsmen." Often, the herders are Muslim Fulani, while the farmers are predominantly Christian. This dynamic can fuel religious or ethnic tensions in the Middle Belt region.
The violence in Plateau State reached a tragic peak this month, as over 100 people were killed in two separate attacks by unknown gunmen. These attacks have exacerbated the already tense situation in Plateau. Some believe that the underlying cause of the violence is not primarily religious or ethnic, but rather a governance issue, with rural areas being inadequately controlled by authorities. A herders' group has denounced the killings, but has also suggested that farmers have attacked their members.
The scarcity of land in Plateau and other Middle Belt states, due factors including climate change and rapid population growth, is a significant contributor to the deadly land disputes that endanger both herders and farmers. The limited police presence in these remote areas often amplifies the situation, with people resorting to violence to defend their rights and resources.
Setting the Stage for Progress
The proposed Accelerated Livestock Development and Growth Strategy will focus on several key areas to help modernize livestock management in Nigeria and potentially reduce conflicts between herders and farmers:
- Modern Livestock Practices: Encouraging herders to adopt sedentary practices, such as cattle ranching, can help minimize encroachments on agricultural land and reduce friction over shared resources.
- Peacebuilding and Community Engagement: By fostering dialogue and cooperation, these efforts can help mitigate tensions and reduce conflicts between herding and farming communities.
- Economic Incentives and Job Creation: By providing jobs and wealth through livestock development, the strategy can encourage local livelihoods that are less dependent on traditional herding practices, potentially stabilizing communities and lessening conflicts.
- Regulatory Framework: A strong federal regulatory framework, in conjunction with state governments and private investors, can help enforce laws and policies that protect both farmers' crops and herders' rights.
- Animal Health and Resource Management: Investments in animal health, feed management, and water resources can contribute to efficient and sustainable livestock practices, potentially reducing competition over resources and easing tensions between pastoralist and farming communities.
In conflict-prone states such as Plateau, implementing this strategy could bring about significant benefits by:
- Engaging local governments in livestock development and policy-making, ensuring that policies are responsive to both social and environmental challenges.
- Supporting community-led peacebuilding efforts and projects that encourage cooperation and reconciliation.
- Attracting private investment to help scale up the livestock industry, creating more jobs for both herders and farmers, and increasing overall economic stability in the region.
By focusing on these priorities, the Accelerated Livestock Development and Growth Strategy could help alleviate tensions and reduce conflicts between farmers and herders in Nigeria, ultimately contributing to a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) represented in the National Economic Council (NEC) discussions on modernizing livestock practices in Nigeria.
- Plateau, Benue, and Kwara states, known for increasing violence, were mentioned in the deliberations at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
- Governors Sheriff Oborevwori, Hyacinth Alia, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Monday Okpebholo, Bassey Otu, and Douye Diri, along with their deputy governors, were present to contribute to the modernizing livestock production in Nigeria.
- On H2, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the National Economic Council announced their intentions to implement a policy-and-legislation approach, aiming at modernizing livestock management in Nigeria.
- The Coastal city of Abuja (capital of Nigeria) played host to the meeting spearheaded by the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday, discussing the modernization of Nigeria's livestock production.
- The General News and Crime-and-Justice sectors echoed the double-edged sword nature of the livestock sector in Nigeria as a cause for friction between farmers and herders in various regions.
- The Nigerian government plans to introduce job opportunities and wealth creation through the livestock sector as one of the strategies to modernize livestock management and possibly reduce conflicts.
- The Ministry of Livestock Development has proposed a regulatory framework in conjunction with state governments, private investors, and relevant agencies to protect both farmers' crops and herders' rights under the Accelerated Livestock Development and Growth Strategy.
