MACBAN, an advocacy group centred on promoting the welfare of pastoralists in Nigeria, said the country’s livestock sector is currently valued at over N33tn, adding that with the envisaged new investments, it is estimated to grow to over N75tn in a few years.
The association’s President, Othman Ngelzarma, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, welcomed the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development and refuted claims that the initiative was an attempt to take other people’s land by force to resettle pastoralists.
On July 9, 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development. He also inaugurated the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee.
The committee was mandated to provide sector-focused solutions to the age-long farmers-herders crisis.
He stated that like the newly created blue economy, a renewed livestock production system would save Nigeria billions of dollars in foreign exchange from the importation of powdered milk and other livestock products.
MACBAN, however, expressed disappointment by the comments of some persons in several interviews granted in the media insinuating that the livestock ministry is a Fulani thing and also as an attempt to take other people’s land by force to resettle pastoralists.