The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Affiliation of Nigeria (MACBAN) has raised issues over the lack of 4 million cows to cattle rustling between 2014 and 2024, in addition to the nation’s heavy reliance on imported milk, which prices Nigeria roughly $2 billion yearly.
MACBAN Nationwide President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, made these remarks in Eleme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, through the inauguration of the newly constituted government members of the affiliation’s Rivers State chapter.
Ngelzarma described the lack of 4 million cows over an 11-year interval as alarming, warning that such scale of theft poses a extreme menace to the livelihood of herders and the nation’s meals safety.
He additionally expressed concern over Nigeria’s low milk manufacturing capability, which has necessitated the importation of dairy merchandise to fulfill native demand—an financial burden that prices the nation about $2 billion in international alternate yearly.
Regardless of these challenges, the MACBAN chief famous that the livestock sector is coming into a brand new section of optimism following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Improvement by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In keeping with him, the newly established ministry is anticipated to deal with longstanding points affecting herders, farmers, and different stakeholders, with a concentrate on growing community-based methods to handle insecurity within the sector.
Ngelzarma emphasised the potential of the livestock business to contribute considerably to the financial system by way of worth addition in meat and milk manufacturing, international alternate earnings from exports, and large-scale youth employment on the grassroots degree.
Reaffirming MACBAN’s dedication to peaceable coexistence, he famous that the affiliation has, over its 42-year historical past, constantly promoted dialogue and battle decision between herders and farmers.
He urged the newly appointed MACBAN Rivers State Chairman, Usman Umar, and his government group to uphold peace and make sure that herders working within the state abide by the regulation and respect their host communities.
“We should proceed to sensitize our members to interact peacefully and cooperate with farmers, neighborhood leaders, youths, safety companies, and the state authorities to construct a harmonious relationship,” Ngelzarma acknowledged.
In his remarks, the brand new MACBAN Rivers State Chairman, Usman Umar, pledged to keep up a cordial relationship with the state authorities and stakeholders, promising to construct on the legacies of his predecessor, Yau.
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