Jega Submits Comprehensive Livestock Reform Report to President Tinubu

On Thursday, former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, presented a livestock reform report to President Bola Tinubu, outlining a comprehensive plan to transform the sector over the next decade. The 152-page report provides a roadmap for addressing key challenges in the livestock industry and unlocking its economic potential.

Jega, who was appointed as Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee in July 2024, emphasized that the reform process aims to enhance opportunities for both farmers and herders while promoting peaceful resolutions to the long-standing conflicts between them. His livestock reform report also includes operational guidelines for the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, a ministry created by the current administration to oversee improvements in the sector.

The document recommends that Nigeria should maintain both grazing and ranching systems in the short term, while working towards developing an intensive livestock sector in the long run. According to Jega, it is crucial for the nation to tap into the sector’s vast investment potential, moving beyond its association with the farmers-herders crisis.

Speaking to reporters, Jega urged Nigerians to focus on the economic opportunities in livestock farming rather than viewing it solely through the lens of conflict. He highlighted that the poultry sector alone holds a potential value of N1.7 trillion, as noted by Winnie Lai-Solarin, the Director and National Project Coordinator for the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project.

President Tinubu, during the committee’s inauguration, expressed his support for the proposed reforms, stating that revamping the livestock sector is vital to creating new avenues for economic growth. He emphasized that all members of the reform committee, including representatives from both the public and private sectors, must put politics aside to achieve the national goal.

“This initiative is about seizing opportunities for our nation’s future, not about politics,” Tinubu stated. He also confirmed the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, which will play a critical role in fostering research and innovation in livestock farming, helping to modernize traditional practices and reduce conflicts.

Tinubu also pointed out that the success of the reforms would require collaboration from all stakeholders, including state governments, to ensure long-term benefits and sustainable development in the livestock sector.