President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development to address the ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders in Nigeria. He revealed this during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the Presidential Villa.
The committee, led by former INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, is tasked with proposing solutions to promote peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
Tinubu emphasized, “The new ministry will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to find lasting solutions to this crisis.”
The formation of the ministry comes 10 months after Tinubu established the presidential committee to tackle herders and farmers’ clashes and to boost the livestock and dairy industries. The decision followed a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.
The committee, chaired by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, recommended creating a Ministry of Livestock Resources. Tinubu approved the recommendation, stating that the committee’s efforts would ensure the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
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The conflict between herders and farmers in Nigeria has escalated, especially in the Middle Belt, due to competition over farmland and pasture. Environmental issues like drought and desertification have forced herdsmen to move south, leading to violent clashes with farmers. These conflicts have caused significant casualties, displacement, and undermined food security. Vulnerable groups, such as women, children, and indigenous people, are particularly affected.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, “at least 2,600 deaths were recorded in Nigeria’s north-central and northwest regions in 2021, surpassing the number of civilian fatalities from Boko Haram insurgencies.”
In 2019, President Buhari’s government introduced the RUGA initiative, promising to reduce conflicts and boost animal production.
However, the initiative faced widespread condemnation, with some Nigerians viewing it as an attempt to “Islamize” certain parts of the country, leading to its withdrawal.