The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for the immediate full operationalization and adequate funding of the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
In a press statement signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, the pastoralist group expressed deep concern that more than a year after its creation, the Ministry is still functioning as a directorate under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security lacking the autonomy, funding, and infrastructure required to fulfill its mandate.
The group commended President Tinubu for the creation of the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the Ministry, describing it as a historic move that brought renewed hope to millions of pastoralists who have faced decades of neglect.
They also praised the appointment of Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha as Minister and noted that his nationwide consultations had inspired nearly 20 states to establish their own livestock development ministries.
However, KACRAN warned that both the reform committee and the Ministry are currently incapacitated due to inadequate funding and a lack of proper operational structures.
The association stressed that this deficiency undermines the government’s goals of achieving food security, reducing farmer-herder conflicts, creating jobs, and ending Nigeria’s annual multi-billion dollar expenditure on imported meat and dairy products.
“It is extremely disheartening that more than a year after its establishment, the Ministry of Livestock Development is still operating more like a Directorate under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,” the statement read.
KACRAN urged President Tinubu to provide immediate and adequate funding for the Ministry and the reform committee.Ensure the Ministry has its own befitting office accommodation where the Minister, Permanent Secretary, and directors can operate cohesively and empower the Ministry to execute transformative projects for the livestock value chain.
The association also commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and L-PRES for their ongoing support in providing security and water points to pastoralists and called on them to sustain their efforts.
The group insists that empowering the Ministry is the only way to reposition pastoralism as a modern, profitable enterprise and to allow stakeholders to meaningfully contribute to national security and economic growth.
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