By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Federal Government has called on the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and other pastoral groups to back ongoing reforms to transform the nation’s livestock sector.
Speaking on Wednesday at MACBAN’s National Conference in Abuja—themed “Advancing Peaceful Pastoralism and Livestock Transformation for Food Security, National Unity and Shared Prosperity”—Livestock Development Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha stressed that these initiatives can only succeed with the active support of livestock producers.
“There are enormous opportunities in the industry, and these can only be effectively realised for national development when all stakeholders participate.”
He urged MACBAN to intensify awareness campaigns and encourage pastoralists to adopt improved livestock production practices and key into the ministry’s initiatives.
“We are ever committed to work with this association to make sure that we change the narrative for the better. We need to improve the image and the economy of this country,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development and Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said President Bola Tinubu had demonstrated strong political will to reposition the livestock sector.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated unprecedented political will to address the long-standing challenges confronting the livestock sector.”
He noted that the administration was expanding investments to unlock the sector’s economic potential and improve livestock production nationwide.
“The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project programme,(L-PRES) programme, currently covering 20 states, is being expanded to an additional 10 states, making it 30 states with about one billion dollars in additional investment,” he said.
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged Nigerians not to associate criminality with any ethnic group, insisting that those responsible for violent crimes should simply be treated as criminals.
“All those evil people carrying out atrocities should not be labelled as Fulani herdsmen. Call them criminals. Those abducting people, kidnapping and committing terrorism are criminals.”
The monarch also pledged the support of the traditional institution for government efforts to improve security and promote peaceful coexistence.
“We are ready 100 per cent to work with the President and all our security agencies to flush out criminals from our communities.”
Earlier, in his remarks, MACBAN President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing pastoral communities, while reaffirming the association’s commitment to peace and lawful conduct.
“MACBAN reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and every form of violent criminality,” he said.
He maintained that criminal acts should never be linked to any ethnicity, religion or occupation, stressing that offenders must face the law.
“Criminals must never be identified with any ethnicity, religion or occupation. Those who violate the law must be dealt with according to the law.”
Ngelzarma urged members to remain ambassadors of peaceful pastoralism by rejecting criminality, respecting the law and building cordial relationships with their host communities.
“We reject violence and criminality in all their forms. We embrace constructive engagement, mutual respect and the rule of law as the only enduring path to national unity and shared prosperity.”
The conference also honoured the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Prof. Attahiru Jega, by conferring on them the title of patrons of MACBAN in recognition of their contributions to livestock reforms, peaceful pastoralism and the development of Nigeria’s livestock sector
Persecondnews also reports that the conference brought together government officials, traditional rulers, pastoralist groups, development partners, security agencies, livestock industry stakeholders and representatives of regional and international organisations to discuss the future of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
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