NEC move signals bold attempt to modernise livestock sector, ease herder–farmer tensions, and secure Nigeria’s food systems.
The National Economic Council (NEC) has moved to confront Nigeria’s long‑running herder–farmer crisis by constituting a new committee on livestock development.
The decision, taken at the 155th NEC meeting chaired virtually by Vice‑President Kashim Shettima, is aimed at fast‑tracking the implementation of livestock production across the country and stabilising rural economies.
The committee draws representation from all six geo‑political zones, with Bauchi, Niger, Ondo, Imo, Cross River and Kebbi nominated to serve.
It also includes key federal officials such as the Ministers of Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, alongside the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness.
Together, they are tasked with reviewing the recommendations of the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the Ministry of Livestock Development’s proposal, while identifying states willing to adopt the programme.
This move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive at the Federal Executive Council (FEC)meeting of December 10, where he instructed NEC to collaborate with the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development to produce a roadmap for transforming the industry.
The ministry’s proposal, presented at Wednesday’s meeting, envisions a modernised livestock sector that can serve as a peaceful and profitable engine of national development.
Vice‑President Shettima, in his remarks, stressed that resolving the farmer–herder crisis is central to food security.
He lamented the loss of lives, destruction of homes and devastation of farmlands, describing the violence as a shared nightmare that has scarred every region, eroded trust among neighbours and disrupted livelihoods.
“We must acknowledge with absolute regret the deep distrust created by this violence, born out of a trade and an ancestral practice that ought to have remained a central pillar of our food security and rural economy,” Shettima said, insisting that food security is a moral obligation to Nigerians.
Shettima commended President Tinubu’s bold initiative to integrate livestock production into the national economy and urged governors to leverage opportunities in the sector to drive economic transformation, conflict resolution, and peace restoration.
He emphasised that the presentations before NEC offered critical insights into stabilising food systems, restoring confidence in rural economies and reducing security pressures arising from competition over land and water.
At the end of the meeting, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, reinforced the strategic importance of livestock development.
He praised Tinubu for establishing a dedicated ministry, noting that livestock is a vital economic activity across Nigeria. Bagudu argued that modernising the sector would not only contribute to national growth and prosperity but also eliminate conflicts associated with its practice.
Risks & Implications
While the NEC’s decision signals a bold step toward modernising Nigeria’s livestock sector, analysts and political observers posit that several risks could undermine the Committee’s effectiveness.
The major risk identified by sceptics is funding. According to them, funding constraints remain a critical challenge, as large‑scale livestock reform will require sustained investment in infrastructure, technology, and security.
Without clear budgetary commitments, the committee’s roadmap may stall at the planning stage.
Political resistance is another factor. States may be reluctant to adopt reforms that alter traditional grazing practices or disrupt entrenched interests.
The programme’s success therefore hinges on governors’ willingness to cooperate, yet regional tensions could slow its implementation.
There is also the issue of security pressures. The farmer–herder crisis has evolved into a nationwide conflict, cutting across geography and eroding trust between communities. Any reform that fails to address land tenure, water access, and migration patterns risks deepening rather than resolving disputes.
Finally, the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development raises questions about bureaucratic overlap. Coordination between the new ministry, existing agricultural agencies, and state governments will be essential to avoid duplication and policy fragmentation.
In essence, while the NEC’s committee represents a strategic attempt to stabilise food systems and rural economies, its success will depend on political will, financial backing, and the ability to deliver practical solutions that communities can trust.
Outlook
The NEC’s livestock development committee no doubt represents more than a bureaucratic adjustment; it is a test of Nigeria’s ability to translate policy into practice. If adequately funded and politically supported, the roadmap could reshape rural economies, reduce violent clashes, and embed livestock as a pillar of national food security.
However, without strong coordination between federal ministries, state governments, and local communities, the initiative risks becoming another stalled reform.
By 2026, the success or failure of this programme will likely be measured not only in economic growth but also in whether trust is restored among communities fractured by decades of conflict.
The Tinubu administration’s willingness to prioritise livestock reform will determine if Nigeria can move beyond cycles of violence toward a modernised agricultural economy that secures both livelihoods and stability.
TheDigger Takeaway:
The NEC’s livestock committee is not just policy—it is a litmus test of Nigeria’s capacity to turn reform into trust, stability, and food security.