Why Create a New Ministry?

On July 9th, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development. This announcement was made during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee at the State House in Abuja. The committee is tasked with providing sector-focused solutions to address the perennial farmers-herders crisis in the country.

In September 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended that President Tinubu establish a Ministry of Livestock Resources. Among other objectives, this new ministry aims to reduce the decades-long conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide.

However, this decision raises several critical questions. Why create a ministry for an issue that an existing committee is already addressing? Why has the committee been unable to resolve this issue? Will a ministry truly solve the problem between farmers and herders? Is this just another avenue for wasting scarce national resources?

In 2018, the then Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, initiated the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) as a solution to the conflict between farmers and herders. This plan aimed to end open grazing by emphasizing the use of ranching to limit animal movement, a notable cause of clashes between the two groups. Despite its promise, the plan did not succeed, likely due to the unwillingness of the parties involved and the lack of execution by experts. As the former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, pointed out, the NLTP, if effectively implemented, could solve the problem of farmer-herder clashes and modernize the livestock industry in our country.

This decision also raises concerns about political motivations. It seems like the president might be trying to gain favor in the North, given that cattle, which are central to the livestock ministry, are primarily associated with that region. However, livestock includes not just cattle but also goats, chickens, horses, pigs, ducks, sheep, and more.

Is the creation of a ministry the answer to this problem? I don’t think so. Without addressing past failures, the new ministry is unlikely to achieve its goals. Instead, effective implementation of the NLTP could benefit both farmers and herders, fostering harmony and benefiting the country economically.

Do we need a ministry for this? In my honest opinion, no. Creating a ministry will only complicate issues and lead to unnecessary spending on staffing and allocation. The bureaucratic process of establishing a new ministry in Nigeria is cumbersome. If the NLTP is effectively implemented, it could be beneficial for both parties and bring economic benefits to the country.