The association also expressed commitment to reduce the farmer/herder conflicts and its related security challenges in Nigeria.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has stated that it is committed to ensuring that livestock production is turned into a foreign exchange earner in the country.
The association also expressed commitment to reduce the farmer/herder conflicts and its related security challenges in Nigeria.
Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, MACBAN president made this known on Tuesday while reacting to the approval of the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
MACBAN had asked for the creation of a Federal Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries that will work towards exploiting the potential in the sub-sector.
Ngelzarma recently told SaharaReporters that the proposed National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches will only address one aspect of livestock, which is ranching.
He urged President Tinubu’s administration to implement the recommendations of the Livestock Reforms and Mitigation Committee to seek a lasting solution to the perennial farmers/herders conflict in rural areas.
However, MACBAN in a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, Ngelzarma expressed his deepest appreciation to the federal government for creating the Ministry of Livestock Development to unlock the multi-trillion naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy.
He noted that with the development, MACBAN is of the opinion that the hope of Nigerian pastoralists has been achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “The promise made by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to raise the productive capacity of the Nigerian agriculture to ensure food security is being fulfilled.
“We as an association had for years been agitating tooth and nail to actulise the creation of a stand-alone ministry to modernise livestock production system in line with global best practices.
“We assure the federal government of our support and commitment to ensure that livestock production is turned into a foreign exchange earner and reduce the farmer/herder conflicts and its related security challenges.
“The Nigerian pastoralists appreciate this historic development and will definitely reciprocate this great gesture.”
“On behalf of Chairman and members of the Board of trustees of MACBAN, his Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto and entire members of cattle Breeders association of Nigeria across the nation heartily congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces for this wonderful development,” the statement added.