The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has called on key stakeholders to cooperate to tackle pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s livestock sector, including the persistent farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued various regions of the country.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day Focus Group Discussion on Sustainable Livestock Development organised by the Ministry on Monday, Maiha emphasised the critical role of collaboration between various actors in the sector to achieve the desired changes.
He highlighted the importance of working towards tangible, practical solutions that will benefit both the livestock industry and the nation as a whole.
“The essence of the meeting is to aggregate the ideas from key stakeholders towards obtaining implementable actions that will be of benefit to the livestock industry and Nigeria in general,” Maiha said.
He noted that the participants were “carefully selected based on practical field experiences in your various disciplines.”
The minister underscored that the establishment of the Ministry by President Bola Tinubu was a direct response to the urgent need for reforms in the livestock sector, with a specific focus on resolving farmer-herder conflicts.
He stressed that Nigerians are demanding real changes, particularly in reducing these conflicts and ensuring a steady supply of affordable livestock products, such as beef, dairy, poultry, and pork.
“Nigerians are looking for change: in the areas of reduction of farmer-herder conflict, increased supply of and affordable beef, dairy products, poultry, chevon, mutton, pork and other livestock products,” Maiha stated.
“With the Ministry and the available human resources in Nigeria, the days of lamentation should be over; we must come together and provide tangible results; we can’t afford to fail,” he said.
The minister emphasised that all stakeholders, including academia, donors, private sector actors, and other government ministries, will be engaged in the Ministry’s activities moving forward.
“We will engage all stakeholders to achieve the desired results; we will link up with academia, donors, other MDAs and the private sector, among others. All actors in the upstream, midstream and downstream of our livestock chains will be consulted in the implementation of our Ministry`s activities,” he explained.
In his address, Maiha also highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and results-driven actions, assuring the participants of the government’s readiness to act swiftly on accepted recommendations.
“We will be open, transparent, consultative and result-driven; our doors are wide open for honest discussions with all,” he remarked.
He said that the focus of the two-day meeting will be to discuss key themes including Animal Health & Breeding, Livestock Entrepreneurship/Value Chains, Feed & Fodder-Grazing Reserves Development, and Cross-Cutting Issues affecting the sector.
Maiha urged the stakeholders to engage constructively and offer actionable solutions to these critical challenges.
“During the proceedings in the next two days; we desire precise, pinpoint recommendations that can provide favourable outcomes if implemented,” Maiha added.
“I assure you of our commitment to act swiftly and effectively on all the accepted recommendations, based on the resources available to us,” the minister said.