A group of herders, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has lamented the lack of support from the incumbent administration for the pastoralists despite the fact that the Fulani people possess 98 percent of the cattle in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the group president Baba Othman Ngelzarma during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday. Therefore, the group clamour for aid and inclusion from the Buhari led-administration, following the group endeavor in the last presidential election, as per report.
Ngelzarma emphasized that the government has neglected the livestock industry, noting that pastoralists are suffering because people think they are for Buhari, and Buhari is for them because he is Fulani. He said up until now nothing has been done to point to despite the concerted efforts shown during the last election. While over N500 billion was invested on agronomy, in the past eight years almost nothing tangible was done for pastoralists. Ngelzarma explains that the provision budgeted for livestock industry both at the states and federal level are too minimal.
Livestock can sustain the country’s economy If harnessed well.
According to the MACBAN President livestock is so resourceful and has a great potential that placed it next to oil. If managed and harnessed well, Ngelzarma said the sector can sustain the economy of the country, an example is a cow; everything on a cow can be a useful resource. He asserts that pastoralists deserve protection for themselves and their businesses against cattle rustlers, kidnappers, bandits, thieves, among other menaces threatening there existence and operational activities.
Ngelzarma argues that the Fulani race should not be perceived as criminals or any kind of threat due to the bad conduct if the few, noting that the majority are also under threat of crises such as the farmers-herders clashes and cattle rustling and kidnapping. He reiterated that MACBAN is a trade group operating a legal cattle rearing business. The group president asserted that there has never been a time when the pastoralists were giving aid after losing their means of livelihood.
NLTP is seen as a meager project that cannot solve the issue at hand.
Moreover, Ngelzarma said a recent initiative of the federal government that provides funds for some states to transform the livestock sector is grossly inadequate to solve the challenges faced by the industry. He further explained that the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) under implementation by the Buhari led-administration, where some states have access to about 3 to 6 billion Naira worth of funding is seen as a meager project that cannot solve the issue at hand.
In furtherance, he cited an instance of the Yola project which has commenced, saying that a livestock centre built with a space for not more than 20,000 cows can not accommodate proffer any solution to the issues of more than two million cows in Adamawa. The livestock subsector is an important and integral component of Nigeria’s agriculture and is a major source of household wealth and food security. More attention needs to be given to the sector in order to harness its full potential for the benefit of the country economy.
These projects will make lands available for livestock farmers.
The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) under implementation is an initiative designed to collaborate with interested state governments to provide land for livestock farmers to practice their profession. Through this program, livestock farmers, including the controversial Fulani herders (and their employers), will have access to land for ranching. When fully initiated, the project will make land available to farmers at a considerably cheap rate, giving farmers who are into livestock farming an opportunity to do so.
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Herders group lament lack of gov’t support – MACBAN clamor for support and inclusion from the government. – Express your point of view.
Is cattle rearing not part of farming? I am not getting what the Miyetti Allah group want again. They should apply for like every other farmers and stop all this deceptive noise they’re making. If Buhari led administration is investing in agriculture it means you’re not left out.
Herders association are also claiming lack of support from the government then which sector is gaining from the government none so far, government need put things in better place for the herders like lands,assist with loans in order to have a ranch where these animals can be rear.
Herders also have their own association. I’m surprised they said they have not been supported by the government. They should ensure they are also doing everything right, to ensure the government supports them.
I don’t understand the way Nigeria system work sometimes.How can someone operating his/her own business and the government will be founding the business?.All this agitation the Meyetti Allah is clamouring for is not viable.
The government needs to put things in a better place for the herders like lands, assist with loans so that they can have a ranch where these animals can be raised. The herders association is also complaining about a lack of support from the government. However, which sector is benefiting from the government so far in this administration?
the absence of assistance for Nigeria’s pastoralists from the country’s current administration, despite the fact that Fulani people own a large proportion of the country’s livestock.
As a result of the group’s participation in the most recent presidential election, they are demanding assistance and inclusion from the administration that is led by Buhari.
Despite the fact that the majority of the population supports Buhari and the Fulani ethnic group, the government has ignored the cattle industry, leaving pastoralists to suffer.
The industry has the potential to keep the country’s economy afloat; as an illustration, take a cow: every part of a cow can be utilized as a resource in some way.
While certain Fulani may have criminal tendencies, it is important to remember that the bulk of the Fulani people is equally at risk from crises like farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, and kidnapping.
While the federal government has recently launched an endeavor to help some states restructure their livestock sectors, this effort is woefully insufficient to address the industry’s pressing problems.
Herders group lament lack of gov’t support. Support for what, what are they bringing to table if not pains to farmers. They have killed so many farmers and villagers
The government should answer these allegations. If so much money is being spent on thr agricultural sector, and yet there’s a claim like this. Then some things need to be cleared
It is imperative that the industry receive a greater amount of focus in order to realize its full potential for the sake of the economy of the country.
Herders group complain lack of government support the government support is been lack everywhere they should do necessary thing that will make government support them so they can be supported
I don’t know why MACBAN is insisting on provision of land by the government for grazing purpose. They have vase land in the north that can be transformed into flourishing land for cattle rearing. Why are they insisting on getting the little land in the south if not that they have hidden agenda. Most farmers requested for loan ,they should seek for one too rather than making unnecessary noise.
What benefits do they bring to the table besides suffering for farmers? Support. Farmers and people have been slain in such large numbers.
As a result of the group’s participation in the most recent presidential election, they are demanding assistance and inclusion from the administration that is led by Buhari.
There is a separate group for herders as well. I find it hard to believe that the government hasn’t backed them up. Equally important is making sure they’re doing the appropriate things to garner the government’s backing.
The government should give herders land and loans to raise these animals on a ranch. The herders group also laments government indifference.
The herders’ group is upset that the government doesn’t seem to care about them. What exactly are they advocating for, and what exactly are they bringing to the table, if not further hardships for farmers? So many farmers and villages have been slaughtered by them.