ex-Presidential aide thumbs up Tinubu’s adoption of livestock transformation plan

In what is a clear endorsement, former Presidential Spokesman and Veteran journalist Laolu Akande has expressed strong support for the Tinubu administration’s readiness to implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan which was developed by the National Economic Council under the Buhari/Osinbajo administration and adopted in 2019, has not been implemented due to what […]

In what is a clear endorsement, former Presidential Spokesman and Veteran journalist Laolu Akande has expressed strong support for the Tinubu administration’s readiness to implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

The plan which was developed by the National Economic Council under the Buhari/Osinbajo administration and adopted in 2019, has not been implemented due to what is said to be the unwillingness of the former President to fully embrace ranching as opposed to open grazing by cattle rearers.

But speaking on Politics Today on Channels TV Tuesday evening Akande emphasized the Plan’s importance in resolving farmer-herder clashes and modernizing the livestock sector.

Akande who served as Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, said, “The National Livestock Transformation Plan is the best solution that is on the table so far when we are talking about resolving farmer-herder clashes. Anyone who is able to review the information that is available will make that determination very easily.”

He highlighted that the Plan, developed by state Governors under the National Economic Council chaired by the Vice President, has been in place since 2019 and any effort to implement it should be commended.

“The Plan aims to modernize the livestock sector and address farmer-herder clashes by promoting ranching instead of nomadic cattle rearing and open grazing, which often lead to security issues and underutilize the livestock industry’s potential,” he added.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in a move expected to end the perennial clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

When asked about the need for a new Ministry to oversee the Plan’s implementation, Akande said, “We are going to have to wait for the details of the recommendations that suggested the creation of another Ministry. We already have a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. I must also add that part of the problems has been articulated in the presentation of the Plan.”

He further clarified, “I’m not sure that we will need a Ministry to do this [implement the Plan].”

On the question of government involvement, Akande explained, “Government has to get involved in this because of the depth of the clashes that we are dealing with at that time and I’m not sure those problems have disappeared.” He elaborated that the National Economic Council, under the leadership of Vice President Osinbajo, formed a committee led by the then-Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to visit the major conflict zones and engage with stakeholders to develop the Plan.