The National Economic Council (NEC) has inaugurated a committee on livestock development to accelerate the implementation of livestock reforms and the establishment of ranches across the country.
The move follows a recent directive by President Bola Tinubu, who tasked the council with identifying and rehabilitating grazing reserves into ranches as part of efforts to curb farmer-herder conflicts and formalise Nigeria’s livestock industry.
The committee was constituted during the 155th NEC meeting held virtually on Wednesday. In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, the committee is mandated to review recommendations of the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee, consider proposals from the Ministry of Livestock Development and identify states willing to participate in the programme.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, was named chairman of the committee, with representation from each of the six geo-political zones. The participating states are Bauchi (North-East), Niger (North-Central), Ondo (South-West), Imo (South-East), Cross River (South-South) and Kebbi (North-West).
Additional members include the Ministers of Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness in the Office of the Vice President.
The livestock development proposal, prepared by the Ministry of Livestock Development and presented to NEC, is designed to reposition the sector as a modern, peaceful and profitable contributor to national growth.
Speaking at the meeting, NEC Chairman and Vice President Kashim Shettima described food security as a moral responsibility of government, emphasising that it can only be achieved through practical, sustainable and widely accepted solutions to the farmer-herder crisis.
He lamented the deep mistrust and violence arising from long-standing tensions between farmers and herders, noting that what once were manageable coexistence challenges had escalated into widespread conflict across the country.
According to Shettima, the violence has affected every region, destroyed livelihoods and weakened trust among communities that previously depended on one another. He commended President Tinubu’s initiative to reform the livestock sector and integrate it more fully into the national economy.
The Vice President urged state governors to give serious consideration to the presentations by the Ministry of Livestock Development and the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee, highlighting the sector’s potential for economic expansion, peacebuilding and conflict resolution. He added that the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development demonstrated the administration’s commitment to unlocking the sector’s potential.
President Tinubu had earlier directed NEC to work closely with the Ministry of Livestock Development to develop a clear roadmap for transforming the livestock industry. He also assigned Vice President Shettima to engage governors and stakeholders on ranching reforms, calling for the rehabilitation of grazing reserves and conflict-prone areas into productive livestock settlements.
The President further instructed the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to begin mobilisation efforts, especially in areas affected by conflict, while reiterating that land ownership remains the constitutional responsibility of state governments.
According to Tinubu, successful implementation of ranching reforms would significantly reduce clashes between farmers and herders and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities.
