From HASSAN JIRGI, Damaturu
Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, KACRAN, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for urgent support for the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Speaking to newsmen in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, National President of the association, Khalil Mohd Bello expressed concern that nearly eight months after the creation of the ministry, the renovation of the permanent office allocated for its operations is yet to be started.
According to him, this delay has impeded the implementation of essential policies and programmes aimed at promoting the livestock sector and its value chain across Nigeria.
Bello added that when the ministry was established on July 9, 2024, Nigerian pastoralists viewed it as a long-awaited answer to their prayers and a significant step towards addressing over 50 years of neglect in the livestock sector.
However, according to him, the lack of progress since then has been disheartening, preventing the ministry from fulfilling its critical role of ensuring food security and contributing to the national economy.
He noted that the critical aspect of the ministry’s mission, being the allocated office space, remained unrenovated, while the timeline for starting the renovation or completion had not been provided.
“This situation severely hampers the ability of the minister, permanent secretary, directors and staff to coordinate effectively and execute their responsibilities.
“Moreover, the financial resources allocated to the ministry for the 2025 fiscal year are insufficient for it to achieve its objectives.
“We implore the president to invest significantly in the livestock sector by enabling the ministry to actively engage in ensuring food security, enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and reduce heavy reliance on imported milk and food products” Bello said.
He therefore called on the president to prioritise the renovation and operation of the ministry’s office so that the minister and staff could effectively promote and develop the livestock sector.
