Fulani Leaders Give Tinubu Fresh Demands

Fulani leaders under the Confederation of Pastoralists have urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to allocate at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural budget to the Ministry of Livestock Development.

They also want the Federal Government to protect the country’s 417 grazing reserves and establish pilot ranches across the six geopolitical zones.

The demands were presented during an international press conference in Abuja on Sunday by Abdullahi Ardo, General Secretary of the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, who spoke on behalf of the coalition.

The leaders said the livestock sector requires greater government attention, adequate funding and a clear policy framework to address longstanding challenges facing pastoralists.

They also called for urgent measures to protect herders, improve livestock production and resolve recurring clashes between farmers and herders.

Ardo commended Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 but expressed concern that the ministry had yet to receive the level of funding and operational support the coalition considers necessary to fulfil its mandate.

He said, “We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development – a historic decision that gave us hope after 60 years of agitation. However, years later, the ministry remains largely unfunded and without a clear operational framework.

“We are appealing for the Ministry of Livestock Development to be active at the community level so that it can achieve its set goals.

“We call on the President and the National Assembly to allocate at least 30 per cent of the agricultural budget to the ministry, immediately gazette and protect the 417 grazing reserves, start pilot ranches and fodder production in the six geopolitical zones.”

The proposed allocation would give the ministry a substantial share of public spending on agriculture.

The leaders believe such funding would help improve livestock management, support ranch development, expand fodder production and provide pastoralists with better access to essential services.

They also want the ministry to extend its activities to local communities where livestock farmers face challenges involving grazing land, water, animal health services and access to markets.

The coalition described livestock as a N30tn economy and argued that the sector should receive sufficient investment to realise its economic potential.

It called for policies that would move livestock production beyond traditional practices towards a more organised and commercially viable system.

Nigeria’s livestock industry provides livelihoods for pastoralists, livestock traders, meat processors, transporters and other participants in the agricultural value chain.

However, disputes over land use, grazing routes and access to water have continued to complicate relations between farming communities and herders in several parts of the country.

The Federal Government established the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 as part of efforts to improve the sector and promote modern livestock production.

The initiative was also intended to support ranching, develop pasture resources and improve infrastructure while addressing the longstanding farmer-herder crisis.

The Fulani leaders, however, want the government to translate the ministry’s creation into practical programmes that reach pastoralist communities.

They argued that the protection of grazing reserves and the development of ranches should form part of a wider strategy to improve productivity and reduce disputes over land.

Beyond agricultural funding, the coalition called on Tinubu to convene a national dialogue involving pastoralist organisations, farmers’ groups, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies and state governments.

According to the leaders, the proposed dialogue should focus on justice, compensation for victims, security and peaceful coexistence.

They said a coordinated approach involving the relevant parties was necessary to address the causes of recurring violence and prevent further loss of lives and property.

Ardo also raised concerns over alleged killings of pastoralists in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and other parts of the country. He called on the Federal Government to investigate the incidents and provide assistance to affected communities.