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Fulani pastoralist organisations have urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to channel at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural budget to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, alongside demands for the establishment of ranches across the country.
The groups said the livestock sector required increased government investment to address longstanding challenges affecting herders and improve the industry’s contribution to the national economy.
Speaking at an international press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the General Secretary of the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, Abdullahi Ardo, presented the demands on behalf of the Confederation of Pastoralists.
The coalition called for the immediate legal recognition and protection of 417 grazing reserves nationwide. It also urged the Federal Government to establish pilot ranches and fodder production facilities in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The pastoralist leaders commended Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 but expressed concern that inadequate funding and the absence of a clear operational framework could hinder its effectiveness.
They maintained that the ministry should extend its activities to rural communities and provide practical support for livestock production. The groups described the livestock industry as an economic sector worth approximately ₦30 trillion and called for policies capable of unlocking its potential.
Beyond funding and ranching, the coalition raised concerns over alleged attacks on pastoralist communities in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. Ardo claimed that hundreds of herders had been killed in recent months, while cattle were reportedly stolen or killed and settlements destroyed.
The organisations called for independent investigations into the alleged attacks and appealed to the Federal Government to provide relief materials to displaced pastoralists through the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
They also advocated a national dialogue involving herder associations, farmers’ representatives, traditional rulers, religious organisations, security agencies and state governments to address recurring clashes between farming and pastoralist communities.
The coalition urged authorities to ensure equal protection under the law for all Nigerians, stressing that lasting peace would require justice, security and cooperation among affected communities.
