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The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a National Peace Campaign to end recurring clashes between farmers and herders, alongside the relocation of livestock from Abuja city centre to designated grazing areas.
Idi-Mukhtar Maiha, minister of Livestock Development, made this known at a media retreat in Abuja, stressing that peace in rural communities is essential for food security, job creation, and national stability.
“Our countryside should have purpose, not armoured carriers. Milking machines must replace machine guns. We want peace, and we need peace to develop,” he said.
Read also: Farmers warn food prices won’t crash unless costs fall
Maiha explained that the Ministry—established in July 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—has developed a National Livestock Development Strategy (NLDS) to serve as a five-year policy guide.
The strategy, he noted, draws from two decades of agricultural policy documents and aims to boost productivity while reducing conflict.
“Already, 16 states have created livestock ministries or related structures in line with the federal government’s vision” he said.
The Minister also revealed that international agribusiness giants from Brazil, Europe, and the Americas are in talks to invest in Nigeria’s livestock sector, describing it as a sign of growing global interest.
On the planned relocation of animals from the FCT, Maiha said the move would decongest the city and minimise farmer-herder tensions.
“All animals in the Abuja city centre will be moved to designated grazing camps. This is the last test case for peaceful coexistence,” he said.
In her welcome remarks, Chinyere Akujobi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by Victor Egbon, Director of Ruminants and Monogastric Development, said the retreat’s theme—“Driving Livestock Growth through Strategic Communication”—underscores the media’s role in shaping public understanding of government initiatives.
“Communication is about fostering trust, shaping perception, and inspiring meaningful action. Who better to accomplish this than journalists?” she noted.
Read also: Gunmen kill five soldiers, farmers in separate Zamfara, Plateau attacks
The retreat, the first since the Ministry’s establishment, is designed to build the capacity of reporters in livestock sector reporting, digital strategies, and development communication, while strengthening collaboration between the government and the media.
