The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) On Sunday, July 21, 2024, said that the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Tinubu will reduce growing conflicts between herders and farmers across Nigeria.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, MACBAN’s National President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, said Nigeria’s foreign earnings can be improved on through the ministry.
Mr Othman-Ngelzarma said that Nigeria’s livestock sector was currently valued at over N33 trillion and, with the probable new investments, it is estimated to grow to over N75 trillion in a few years.
According to MACBAN’s president, with a renewed livestock production system, the country can save billions of dollars in foreign exchange from the importation of powdered milk and other livestock products.
He said, “By 2050 when the Nigerian population will be about 402 million, the nutritional needs must also increase alongside the population growth.
“In line with this, enhancing livestock production can substantially increase the protein requirements which can best be achieved under a dedicated ministry.”
Unlocking millions of jobs
Mr Othman-Ngelzarma while appreciating President Tinubu for this initiative said the livestock industry which currently employs over 20 million Nigerians has the potential of unlocking millions of additional quality jobs.
According to him, the creation of the new ministry is coming when Nigeria is beset by high levels of graduate and youth unemployment.
“The country will also be positioned to earn billions of dollars in the export of leather, beef and other livestock-related value chain products.
“As it is today, it’s a sector that employs Nigerians cutting across tribes and religion, some as butchers, transporters, tax collectors, dairy/beef producers,” Mr Othman-Ngelzarma said.
FX earnings
Speaking on exports and foreign earnings for the country, Othman-Ngelzarma said the Sokoto red-skin goat leather was the most valuable and most expensive in the world.
He emphasised that the Gucci and Armani bags and other accessories are a good testament to the ingenuity of the leather from Sokoto.
He added, “Nigeria earns about 1.2 billion dollars annually for the export of hide and skin. It is therefore very mischievous and petty for educated and enlightened people to peddle falsehood.
“To the critics, I urge them to lay down arms and stop being narrow and parochial in their thinking. They should widen up their good sense of reasoning to look at the larger picture of what the establishment of this wonderful ministry can do.” he concluded.
