The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba-Othman Ngelzarma, has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly neglecting the group.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ngelzarma, who spoke to journalists in Abuja at the weekend, also stated that had livestock been given proper attention by the Buhari administration, it “is next to oil”.
“Buhari has abandoned the pastoralists. This is very clear, whether Buhari or his lieutenants, the pastoralists have been abandoned by the government,” the Miyetti Allah leader said.
“In the last eight years, nothing tangible was done for pastoralists. While over N500 billion was spent on agronomy, nothing was spent on livestock, almost nothing.
“Go and check all the state government’s budgetary provisions including the federal government’s budgetary provisions.
“If you see what is budgeted for livestock, you will be surprised. Livestock is being neglected completely.
“How can a multi-trillion Naira business be left in the hands of literate without any form of organization? The government is getting nothing instead of benefiting a lot. This is next to oil. Livestock is next to oil. It can sustain the economy of this country with very good harnessing and organization.
“There’s nothing wasteful on the cow. Imagine the value chain – everything on the cow is money.”
