FG moves against cattle rustling, launches scheme to boost production

…NGF hails Tinubu’s presidency

Barely 24 hours after the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government has intensified efforts aimed at protecting livestock, especially cattle, from rustlers, thereby increasing livestock production in the Country.

BusinessDay reports that the Federal Government has established a National Animal Identification Traceability System (NAITS) meant to prevent cattle rustling and livestock production, particularly in the North, which hosts more than 83% concentration of cattle.

Speaking at the launch of the National Animal Identification Traceability System (NAITS), the Kwara State Chapter held in Ilorin on Wednesday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) commended President Bola Tinubu for taking bold steps to develop livestock and put an end to the perennial herders-farmers clashes across Communities in the Country.

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The Kwara State governor, who specifically mentioned the recent inauguration of Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee by the Federal Government, described the move by Government to establish a Ministry for Livestock Development as historic efforts to transform agricultural landscape and enhance food security in a sustainable way.

The governor however thanked, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and his team for the hard work to transform the agric sector for economic diversification.

“This explains why our administration in Kwara State has paid good attention to the livestock sub sector, as is evident with our participation in the LPRES, SAPZ programmes and our FASEP partnership with the French Government. Our investment is driven by the fact that most of the rural populace have one or two types of livestock which act as an economic buffer and a source of emergency exchange for cash.

“Our aim is to ensure that our small holding livestock farmers become commercially oriented so that they can respond to the growing demand for quality food from urban centres, the realities of climate change, and the fluctuating global economy. This will also ensure that their families have adequate supply of animal proteins and enjoy improved livelihood,” he said.

He pledged to support the agricultural initiative by facilitating the construction and equipping of the Kwara NAITS centre through the LPRESS, and solicited for more collaborations with the Federal Government, particularly in developing irrigation for all-year farming, agricultural mechanization.

“We also look forward to more collaborations, particularly in developing irrigation for all-year farming, agricultural mechanization, opening of more lands for agriculture, development of our airport for agricultural exports, capacity building for our farmers and the development of commercial farming settlements for our youths and women. This will tackle the produce demand and supply gap and reduce the unemployment burden in the country”, he added.

Also, a statement issued by Temple Oladipo, Press Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, indicated that “about 24 hours ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, inaugurated the Committee on the Implementation of Livestock Reforms along with a historic plan to establish the Ministry of Livestock Development.

“This announcement has expectedly sparked national excitement around the future of livestock value chains and the potential to end the perennial clashes between herders and farmers.

“We thank Mr. President for these historic steps and we are confident that all stakeholders will rally round the President to achieve this,”the Governor said through Sa’adu Salaudeen, his Counselor and Senior Advisor.”

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Similarly, Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security said NAITS is part of the national livestock transformation programmes of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration that seeks to reduce cattle rustling and farmers-herders clashes, as well as engendering peaceful coexistence in the country.

He noted that the federal government is working tirelessly to develop livestock transformation that would satisfy local demands and the exportation to foreign countries.

“Growing domestic and global demands for animal products is key to this administration. When we develop our livestock industry and we are able to satisfy our local demands, we should also begin to think of how to export to other countries.

“So, export is a long term vision but in the present, our interest is to organize this industry so that owners of this industry would benefit from it,” the Minister said.