President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development to address the persistent conflicts between nomadic pastoralists and sedentary farmers in Nigeria. This initiative was revealed during the inauguration of the Livestock Reform Implementation Committee in Abuja.
Although the ministers to lead the new ministry have not been named, Professor Attahiru Jega has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, with President Tinubu serving as the Chairman. Professor Jega replaces Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the APC, in this role.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, clarified that Dr. Ganduje’s replacement was not politically motivated. He emphasized that the Committee’s composition is apolitical due to the sensitive nature of its mandate.
The conflict between herders and farmers, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has led to significant casualties and heightened tensions. Environmental factors like drought and desertification in the north have driven pastoralists southward, increasing competition for resources and resulting in violent clashes. This conflict has caused loss of lives and livelihoods, undermined food security, facilitated the spread of small arms, displaced many people, and diverted resources away from development. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and indigenous communities, are particularly affected.
