- What’s Happening: The National Assembly supports President Tinubu’s livestock reform agenda.
- Why It Matters: Aims to resolve the farmer-herder conflict and boost food security.
- Key Figure: Senator Saliu Mustapha emphasizes the National Assembly’s commitment.
- Expert Insight: Professor Attahiru Jega highlights the urgency of livestock sector overhaul.
- The Goal: To significantly increase poultry, beef, and milk production by 2050.
NASS Throws Weight Behind Tinubu’s Livestock Masterplan
In a powerful display of unity, the National Assembly has given its full support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious livestock reform agenda. This bold strategy aims to finally resolve the persistent farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued Nigeria and address the growing threat of food insecurity.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development, made the announcement in Ilorin, Kwara State. He was speaking at a Distinguished Personality Lecture held in his honor at the University of Ilorin.
Professor Jega’s Urgent Warning
The lecture, titled “The Political Economy of Livestock Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects,” was delivered by Professor Attahiru Jega, former INEC Chairman and current Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Reforms. Jega, a respected figure known for his intellectual prowess and reform-minded approach, didn’t hold back in his assessment.
Jega warned that Nigeria is teetering on the edge of a nutritional and economic catastrophe if it doesn’t overhaul its outdated livestock sector. He pointed to systemic failures, including increasing land scarcity, climate change impacts, and poor resource management, as key drivers of the deadly clashes in rural areas. According to a report by SBM Intelligence, these clashes have resulted in thousands of deaths and massive displacement over the past decade. It’s not just about economics; it’s a matter of national security.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Massive Production Boost Needed
Jega presented some eye-opening statistics:
- To feed Nigeria’s projected population of over 400 million by 2050, the country needs to increase:
- Poultry production by 253%
- Beef production by 117%
- Milk output by a staggering 577%!
These figures underscore the scale of the challenge and the urgency of the reforms.
What’s Next? Legislative Action on the Horizon
Senator Mustapha assured that the National Assembly is ready to enact comprehensive, evidence-based reforms to modernize Nigeria’s livestock industry, end communal conflicts, and boost rural prosperity. “We are fully aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its transformative agricultural vision,” Mustapha stated. “Professor Jega’s lecture has laid out a powerful intellectual blueprint that will shape our legislative commitment in the months ahead.”
A Call to Action
The event at the University of Ilorin drew a diverse crowd, including academics, students, lawmakers, and policymakers. The message was clear: Nigeria needs a radical overhaul of its livestock sector to ensure food security and national stability.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Adedoyin Omeda, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Fawole Adisa, praised Professor Jega’s return to the public stage, highlighting his unique blend of scholarly rigor and practical governance experience.