President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the combination of ranching and open grazing as the solution to the farmer/herder clash in the country.
Prof Atahiru Jega, Chairman, Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reform made this known to journalists after submitting his committee report to the president on Thursday.
Open grazing has been at the middle of the clashes between Nigerian farmers and Fulani herders for decades, while previous efforts by the government to build confidence among the parties have failed.
President Tinubu had last July set up the Jega committee to advise the government on the way forward to resolve the perennial conflicts.
The Tinubu administration has also suggested the creation of the Livestock Ministry as a permanent solution to the clashes. The sector is currently under the Ministry of Agricultire.
Speaking yesterday, Jega, a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, EFCC, said the president has agreed to his committee report that herders should be allowed to graze openly while government makes efforts to build ranches across the country.
He said the livestock industry if well harnessed has the potential to be, for the country, a huge export earner, adding that “Mr President has recognised the need to redress this neglect and has invited us to contribute to finding ways and the means of unlocking the opportunities in this sector.”
He explaiened that the recommendations included jobs creation, feed and export of raw materials and products from the sector.
Jga said, “We believe that our recommendations are quite comprehensive, and if we can meticulously implement them, no doubt, very soon we will begin to see its positive impact on our economy. Whether it is in terms of job creation or in terms of development of products and services, or even opening up opportunities for exports.
“We believe that there has been a neglect of this sector for a very long time. We are happy that Mr President has recognised the need to redress this neglect and has invited us to contribute to finding ways and the means of unlocking the opportunities in this sector.
“So, I’m very pleased to say that today we presented an inception report to Mr President, and it’s a document of about 152 pages divided into five sectors.”
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