By Awwal Umar Kontagora The newly created Ministry of Livestock Development is set to establish ranches in seven states across Nigeria in 2...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The newly created Ministry of Livestock Development is set to establish ranches in seven states across Nigeria in 2025.
Our investigation reveals that two ranches will be located in the South-West states of Lagos and Ogun, while another two will be established in Imo and Cross River states, representing the South-East and South-South zones, respectively. Additionally, two North-East states, Adamawa and Taraba, and the North-West state of Kebbi will also have ranches.
The 2025 budget, which was reviewed, allocates a total sum of N315 million for the establishment of these ranches. Beyond this allocation, the Ministry, with a total budget of N11.8 billion, has earmarked N150 million for the creation of poultry domestication farms in Delta, Abia, and Bauchi states.
The Ministry’s budget includes an overhead component of N1.8 billion and a capital expenditure component of N10 billion. Furthermore, N600 million has been allocated for the provision of solar power to livestock production communities in 30 federal constituencies across Nigeria. Another N50 million has been set aside for the installation of solar-powered streetlights in grazing reserves.
In an effort to address the long-standing hostility between farmers and herders, the budget provides N86 million for related initiatives. Of this amount, N85 million will fund stakeholder engagements with governors, traditional rulers, and thought leaders at both federal and state levels. An additional N101 million is allocated for the establishment of conflict resolution mechanisms at the community, ward, local government, and state levels.
The Ministry has also allocated N97 million to establish a performance management system platform to track staff performance.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration approved the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2023 during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee at the State House, Abuja. The committee was tasked with providing sector-focused solutions to address the protracted farmers-herders crisis.
It is worth recalling that on September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended the creation of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to mitigate the decades-long conflicts between farmers and nomadic cattle herders across the country.
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