Tinubu: Herders, Farmers’ Crises Persisted Because Past Leaders Failed

*Approves presidential committee to curb further clashes 

*Ganduje hints FG may establish livestock ministry 

*Committee submits report to president

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, blamed past leadership in the country for the recurring clashes between herders and farmers across the country.
The president, who received a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria, however, approved the setting up of a presidential committee to curb further clashes as well as reform the livestock and dairy industries.

National Chairman of the AlI Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who led the committee to Tinubu, however, announced that part of there commendations submitted to the president was to establish a ministry of livestock as well as modernising and improving livestock production in the country.
According to the president, “It is not the fault of herders and farmers that this crisis has persisted, it is the fault of the leadership, who failed to find immediate solutions to solve their problems. Leadership is about thinking and doing.”

Tinubu, in a release last night by his Media Adviser, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, stated this in Abuja, said the president also approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee for the reform of the livestock industry and the provision of long-term solutions to recurring clashes between herders and farmers in the country.

The president explained that the committee was expected to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic wellbeing of all Nigerians.
According to him, “The federal government is fully prepared to cover the cost of acquiring the land. These opportunities will provide gainful employment for our veterinary doctors, while opening doors for the private sector as the provision of new educational opportunities for herders’ and their children emerge. Medical facilities will be established. This is a life-changing opportunity that we have.

“Imagine us producing enough milk for our school children. Imagine us becoming net exporters of cheese and yoghurt. Imagine us producing the skin massively with a major Nigerian leather industry. Imagine us providing cold storage facilities and employment across the nation. These things are possible in front of us.”
Tinubu  commended Ganduje for assembling the best minds and experts to find solutions to the perennial issues between pastoralists and farmers, and also praised the committee members for their diligent work in examining the complex issues related to livestock management, land use, and security.

“Out of every tragedy, if you are careful, you will see an opportunity. We have faced this conflict for some time. We know it is a homegrown problem. It is very hard for people to stay away from their traditional, old ways.  I tried in 2018 to bring about a solution to this problem, but it proved elusive.
“But I’ve been told not to ever give up and today I believe the solution is here,” the President stated, referring to the committee report, which contained several recommendations.
Earlier, Ganduje recalled that during his tenure as the governor of Kano State, he had hosted a national conference as part of a deliberate effort to promote the modernisation of livestock production, while strengthening the capacity of local authorities to manage relationships and amicably resolve conflicts between herders and farmers.

He noted that Kano was one of the most peaceful states in the country throughout his eight years in office.
“Mr. President, I am convinced that the report submitted here today has the antidote to the problems of the livestock industry. It addresses the key reforms and presents various development options required for the sustainable development of the sector.

“The implementation of the proposals will enhance productivity, improve livelihoods, promote environmental conservation, address substantial causes of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, and help in reducing the cost of importation for animal products like milk and beef”.
Also, wwhile speaking with newsmen after leading the committee to present its report to the president, he said Tinubu was prepared to act on the recommendations in his determination to solve the problems associated with livestock in the country.
His words: “Let me start with a proverb, they say, “It is easy to declare war, but it’s difficult to wage it. Meaning that we have made a number of important recommendations, because we studied previous attempts; the failures, the successes, we put them together and made recommendations to Mr President.
“But in order to find the solution, practical solution, that will provide the desired goals, you’ll need strong institution. We recommended the establishment of Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies so that various aspects of the recommendations will have appropriate institutions for implementation.
“We also recommended a source of funding, including international organisations, the private sector, the government itself, so many other things. So the answer we get is that Mr. President is ready to provide solution to these problems, especially pertaining to the economy of the livestock and then the security aspects of the herders-farmers’ conflict.”
Ganduje said the report submitted “grew out of the urgent need to reform and develop the livestock industry and to provide solutions to the age-long conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria.
“The low productivity of the sector has made Nigeria an import dependent economy draining scarce foreign reserves used for importing dairy, meat and other livestock products. Similarly, the conflicts is resulting in killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country.
“With increasing populations, ecological changes such as soil erosion and degradation of grazing areas and changing climates, adopting innovative crops and livestock production practices is no longer luxury but an essential investment that this people centred administration under your leadership needs to vigorously pursue.
“There have been repeated attempts to develop the livestock industry with varying levels of failures and successes. The adoption of improved production practices that will increase productivity and help the cattle owners to permanently settle have been abysmal due to many factors such as inadequate planning and funding of programmes, weak extension services as well as other cultural, economic and technological barriers.
“The persistence of these problems has allowed unhealthy competition and acrimony to grow among farmers and herders resulting to violent conflicts across the country.”
Ganduje, however, said the implementation of the proposals would enhance productivity, improve livelihoods, promote environmental conservation, address substantial causes of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists and help in reducing the high cost of imports of animal products like milk and beef.