President Bola Tinubu has appointed Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as Adviser and Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Initiative. The appointment was announced on Friday evening in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential adviser on information and strategy. This move underscores the administration’s renewed commitment to resolving longstanding issues in Nigeria’s livestock sector. Prior to this appointment, Jega served as the co-chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee.
In 2023, President Tinubu emphasized his administration’s dedication to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a commercialized industry. He lamented the neglect of livestock farming on a commercial scale, stating that Nigeria could have significantly benefited if the sector had been properly developed.
To address the persistent clashes between herders and farmers and strengthen the livestock and dairy industries, Tinubu approved the establishment of a livestock committee in 2023. This committee was formed following Tinubu’s review of a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.
