MACBAN Warns Against Political Hijack of Livestock Development Ministry

News in Brief:

-MACBAN accuses Abuja-based politicians of dominating livestock reform discussions and warns that the new ministry’s plans may fail without grassroots inclusion.

-They urge the government to engage pastoralists in ranching and livestock transition plans for food security and rural peace.

Fulani herders under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have raised concerns over what they describe as their exclusion from the planning and decision-making processes of Nigeria’s newly established Ministry of Livestock Development.

In a statement released in Awka, Anambra State, MACBAN’s Deputy National Director and Sarkin Fulani of Awka, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, accused Abuja-based politicians and organisations with little connection to real herding communities of hijacking discussions around livestock reform.

“We are beginning to see a pattern where individuals and organisations based in Abuja, many without grassroots membership, dominate the conversation on livestock reform,” Siddiki said. “These actors frequently appear in meetings and on social media, claiming to speak for pastoralists, while the actual pastoral communities remain unaware of these programmes.”

Siddiki said this disconnect between policymakers and herders poses a serious threat to the success of the Ministry’s livestock programmes, particularly the planned transition to ranching.

Call for Inclusion in Ranching Reforms

The MACBAN leader warned that if the Ministry fails to properly engage herders, through sensitisation and inclusion, the initiative could suffer the same fate as Nigeria’s abandoned grazing reserve projects.

“If the goal is truly to promote peaceful coexistence and sustainable livestock management, then herders themselves must be informed, educated, and actively involved,” he said. “It is unjust to prohibit someone from practising a livelihood he understands without first equipping him with the knowledge and support to transition to a new system.”

Siddiki appealed to the FG to ensure that livestock policies are inclusive and reflective of the realities of pastoral life across Nigeria’s rural regions. He emphasised that without proper training, access to resources, and community sensitisation, the shift from open grazing to ranching would be met with resistance and misunderstanding.

This call echoes a broader concern across Nigeria’s livestock sector: the need for inclusive policy design that bridges the gap between government agencies and rural producers. As the Ministry of Livestock Development takes shape, many believe its success will depend on how well it integrates the voices of the pastoralists it aims to serve.