The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development will boost Nigeria’s foreign earnings, and reduce transhumance, poverty and conflicts associated with the outdated practice.
The National President of MACBAN, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, stated this at a news briefing on Sunday in Abuja.
He stated that the livestock sector was currently valued at over N33 trillion and with the envisaged new investments, it is estimated to grow to over N75 trillion in a few years to come.
Othman-Ngelzarma also said that like the blue economy, a renewed livestock production system would save Nigeria billions of dollars in foreign exchange from the importation of powdered milk and other livestock products.
According to him, it is projected that Nigeria will earn more than ten times what it earns now in foreign exchange.
Othman-Ngelzarma said, ” By 2050 when the Nigerian population will be about 402 million, the nutritional needs must also increase alongside the population growth.
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“In line with this, enhancing livestock production can substantially increase the protein requirements which can best be achieved under a dedicated ministry.”
He commended President Bola Tinubu for creating a ministry for an industry that currently employs over 20 million Nigerians and has the potential to unlock millions of additional quality jobs.
Othman-Ngelzarma added, “This is coming at a time 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.”
He explained that the livestock industry goes beyond cows, adding that it includes pigs, goats, sheep, fish, donkeys, camels and the rest.
Othman-Ngelzarma said, “Therefore, we are highly disappointed by the comments of some very educated people in several interviews granted in the media equating the creation of the ministry to the Ruga project of the last administration.
“And insinuating that it is a Fulani thing and also an attempt to take other people’s land by force to resettle pastoralists.
“These myopic commentators are so entrenched in anti- Fulani sentiments that they fail to see the bigger picture and the opportunities open to veterinarians, animal scientists, beef and dairy processors and investment bankers.
“We are not supposed to be the defenders of this decision but the fact that we have been at the forefront in calling for the creation of such a ministry.
“Believing that Nigeria must transit from the backward livestock production system to a new system that guarantees bigger returns in investments, reduces the transhumance, poverty and conflicts associated with the outdated traditional system.”
Othman-Ngelzarma said the Sokoto red-skin goat leather was the most valuable and most expensive in the world.
He added, “The Gucci and Armani bags are a good testament to this. Nigeria earns about $1.2 billion annually for the export of hide and skin.
“It is therefore very mischievous and petty for educated and enlightened people to peddle falsehood.
“I wish to reiterate and commend President Tinubu for this laudable initiative.
“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.”
