$14billion lost

Professor Osinbajo Says Nigeria Suffers $14bn Loss To Farmer-herder Clashes Annually

 

 

Nigeria loses over $14 billion yearly due to the frequent farmer-herder clashes, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

Osinbajo disclosed in Lagos while declaring this year’s Livestock and Aquaculture Trade Fair open.

Represented by the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) Delivery Advisor at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Efosa Onyezebe, the vice president, noted that it was disheartening that a country whose population was projected to rise to over 250 million by 2030, was suffering such a huge loss because of clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

According to Osinbajo, to tackle the challenge, the federal government initiated the NLTP to support and strengthen the development of market-driven ranches in the livestock ecosystem for improved productivity through breed (genetic) improvement and pasture production, in addition to efficient land and water productivity improvement.

The vice president explained that under the programme, about 22 states have so far sent letters of expression of interest, adding that 10 states have set up the state Livestock Transformation Office, just as four states have identified and mapped the gazetted grazing reserves in their domains and are ready for take-off.

He said some states have received funding for the development of the pilot ranches.

Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Mahmood Abubakar, called for the development of the nation’s fishing industry.

Represented by Mrs Omolara Oguntuyi, Abubakar noted that the nation has no business importing fish going by the nation’s abundant marine resources.