Fulani Pastoralist Groups Present New Demands to President Tinubu Regarding Livestock Sector

A coalition of pastoralist organizations, including the Confederation of Pastoralist NGOs (CONPA) and the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, has issued a formal set of demands to President Bola Tinubu regarding the management and development of the nation’s livestock sector. During an international press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, representatives emphasized the economic potential of the industry while calling for urgent policy interventions.

Proposed Economic and Structural Reforms

Abdullahi Ardo, the General Secretary of the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association, outlined three primary requests intended to stabilize and modernize the livestock economy. The coalition is advocating for the following measures:

• Budgetary Allocation: A directive requiring that 30% of the national agricultural budget be dedicated to the Ministry of Livestock Development.
• Land Protection: The official gazetting and legal protection of 417 grazing reserves currently identified across Nigeria.
• Regional Infrastructure: The establishment of pilot ranches and fodder production facilities in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.

While the groups acknowledged the administration’s 2024 decision to create a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development—a move Ardo described as the culmination of 60 years of advocacy—they argued that the ministry currently lacks the necessary funding and operational framework to function effectively. According to the coalition, the livestock sector represents a N30 trillion economy that requires more substantial government attention.

Addressing Security and Social Stigma

A significant portion of the briefing focused on the security situation facing pastoralist communities. Ardo explicitly rejected the conflation of pastoralists with banditry, stating, “We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country. Our cattle feed this nation. Criminals are criminals and have no tribe.”

The coalition called for a formal investigation into the deaths of pastoralists in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara. The groups alleged that hundreds of individuals, including women and children, have been killed, while cattle have been rustled and Rugas (settlements) destroyed in these regions.

Call for National Dialogue

To address the persistent farmer-herder conflict, which the groups noted has resulted in over 20,000 deaths over the past decade, the coalition proposed a national dialogue. They suggested that this forum should include representatives from the Miyetti Allah, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and relevant security agencies. The objective of such a dialogue would be to foster reconciliation and develop sustainable solutions to the violence that has plagued rural communities.

Conclusion

The demands presented by CONPA and the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association reflect the ongoing tension between the need for agricultural modernization and the security challenges facing pastoralist populations in Nigeria. As of the time of this report, the federal government has not issued a formal response to these specific requests, and the operational status of the Ministry of Livestock Development remains a subject of ongoing debate among stakeholders.

<

p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

Tags: Agriculture · Fulani · Livestock · news · Nigeria · Tinubu · ViralBrief