TheCable

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has asked the federal government to create a ministry of livestock development that will see to the full implementation of the national livestock transformation plan (NLTP).

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) made a similar request in 2018.

NLTP was put in place by the national economic council (NEC) led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The plan was to run for a period of 10 years — between 2019 and 2028.

As of June 2021, the federal government said 22 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) had registered under the programme.

The group also called for an immediate designation and documentation of grazing reserves in the country.

According to NAN, Saleh Alhassan, national secretary of the group, made the fresh call on Monday during an expanded meeting of the national executives of the association to discuss challenges confronting Fulani pastoralists.

Alhassan said the implementation will help to address farmer-herder clashes.

“Restoration of all the grazing reserves across the states of the federation is one of the strategic ways to address the incessant farmer-herder clashes,” he said.

“This should also include creation deployment of modern technology, earth dams and solar boreholes as well as veterinary clinics and development of dairy (milk) collection centres.”

Alhassan also faulted the “continuous” profiling of Fulani pastoralists as criminals.

He, however, expressed gratitude to the federal government for its commitment to livestock development, saying the move will enhance the security and general welfare of pastoralist communities in the country.

He also noted that the group has embarked on mobilisation and sensitisation of its members on the need to participate in the forthcoming elections.

“We call on the political awareness and mobilisation directorate to embark on awareness campaigns to sensitise our people on participating in the forthcoming general elections,” he said.