Abuja: The Minister of Livestock Development says the Ministry under him will leverage on the nation’s grazing reserves as a sustainable approach to end Farmer/Herder clashes in the country. The Minister, Mr. Idi Maiha stated this when he assumed office in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital. He stated that one of his top priorities is to empower stakeholders in the sector by creating an enabling environment for investors.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Maiha emphasized that his focus would be to ensure that policies and programs benefit stakeholders ranging from smallholder farmers to large-scale producers. He expressed the Ministry’s commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment that will support climate-smart livestock farming, modernization, and commercialization. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of fully utilizing the nation’s grazing reserves as a key strategy to mitigate farmer-herder conflicts.
Mr. Maiha also addressed the issue of youth and women empowerment, noting the potential of
the livestock value chain in generating job opportunities. He expressed plans to incentivize youth and women participation in the sector as a means of job creation and wealth generation. The Minister outlined intentions to form partnerships with government institutions, private sectors, research institutions, and development partners to achieve these goals.
Furthermore, Mr. Maiha mentioned the introduction and adoption of international best practices in husbandry and breeding, improvement of animal health and food safety services, and enhancement of market access while ensuring animal welfare.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, also spoke on the collective efforts to reposition the livestock sector. She emphasized the Ministry’s role in creating jobs, improving livelihoods, reducing conflicts between farmers and herders, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
The Ministry of Livestock Development, established by President Bola Tinubu on July 9
, 2024, has specific mandates. These include the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of livestock development and animal health policies, development of grazing reserves, and establishment of conflict mitigation strategies. The Ministry is also responsible for setting up efficient national animal health management services and promoting public-private sector investments in the livestock industry.