From Abdullahi Shugaba, Katsina
A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), of a renowned Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Billital Maroobe Pastoralist Association of Nigeria (BILMPAN), Alhaji Ya’u Haruna Malammadori has appealed to the Federal Government to create a Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production.
Malammadori who was a former Chairman of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Jigawa State Chapter, opposed the Bill for an Act to Establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission which is being sponsored by Sen. Titus Tartenger Zam from Benue State.
The Ex-Chairman of MACBAN made the appeal on the sidelines of a program to launch 2.5 million tonnes of fertilizers released by the Federal Government which were distributed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to farmers recently in the country.
He noted that herders and cattle breeders normally do not benefit from the distributions and yet, somebody is advocating for the establishment of cattle ranches which will not be in the interest of cattle breeders in the country.
“I can tell you without mincing words that herders and cattle breeders are always excluded from distributions of any farm inputs by the government as if they are also not farmers.
“Therefore, we are against the bill in its entirety because the move is aimed to punish herders, we appeal to distinguished senators to drop the bill for the sake of national interest.
“We learnt that the proposed bill by Sen. Zam has even passed the first and second reading, we urge the lawmakers to consider the dangers associated with this bill which seeks to victimize pastoral communities which will also affect national livestock production and food security.
“If that bill is passed into law, by implication all herders and cattle breeders are expected to relocate and leave their places of abode to where the ranches will be established which will restrict our people and hinder livestock farming in the country.
“We are also Nigerians, we cannot leave the places where our great grandfathers lived to move to places where we are not known or born because of the harsh law”, Malammadori said.
The Fulani leader observed the need for the Federal Government to rather create a Ministry for Livestock and Animal Production as the only solution to the incessant herders/farmers clashes in the country which is better than creating the proposed commission.
“I think if this is done, government can distribute assorted grass seeds through the ministry to herders and cattle breeders for planting to graze their animals which will go a long to minimizing the incessant herders/farmers clashes in the country.
Malammadori also expressed worry over the widespread belief by some communities who label herders as criminals which he described s unfortunate, urging members of the public to avoid branding nor stereotyping whole ethnic groups with bad labels.
“Members of all major ethnic groups have been arrested in connection with armed banditry, kidnapping and violent crime, and these are on recorded in the national dailies, that is why we should not attach tribe to acts of criminality.
“In terms of our exclusion from various forms of government support, we gave immense support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but we wondered why we are always sidelined when it comes to distribution of farm inputs that will improve our livelihood.
“In fact most the the clashes between herders and farmers in the country are due to lack of cogent policies that will support and effectively regulate animal grazing.
“We are also bothered by the fact that most traditional rulers in the country are fond of conniving with unscrupulous politicians in government to seize our grazing lands and cattle routes.
“Unfortunately, where we resist we get arrested, detained and taken to court where some police and judges extort money from us.
“This is why we firmly believe that if government should establish a Ministry for Livestock and formulate policies that will regulate the activities of herders, our people will no longer face these problems.
“I therefore passionately appeal to President Tinubu to listen to our request to create a Ministry of Livestock and Grazing to ensure equity and social justice which will also boost livestock production band food security in the country.
The BoT Member of the group in West Africa also advised President Tinubu to borrow a leaf from his counterparts in Niger Republic and other African countries where they have a separate ministry in charge of livestock.
The former MACBAN leader in Jigawa state also expressed appreciation to the Deputy Senate President, Sen.Barau Jibrin from Kano North and some other members of the Red Chamber for standing against the bill for the establishment of Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission in view of its implication to peaceful coexistence of the country.
