The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved N100bn as a budget for the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The NEC presided over by the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo approved the proposal on Thursday.
Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi who served as chairman sub-committee on herders/farmers crisis, briefed State House correspondents after the Council meeting in Abuja.
He said, “The plan is not targeted only at cows but a holistic strategy to address animal husbandry.
“The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market-oriented value-chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice”
The governor disclosed that the committee proposed that the Federal Government would bear 80% of the N100bn while participating states would support it with the balance of N20bn and land for the programme.
He added, “Council resolved today that there was a need to look at the trans-human West African protocols; you cannot allow such movement of cattle without registration and monitoring.”
Seven states have been selected by the Federal Government for the commencement of the NLTP.
This was revealed by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State who attended the NEC meeting.
The governor, who spoke through his Director-General in charge of Media and Publicity, Yusuf Idris, said the pilot states were Zamfara, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina and Gombe.
The adoption of the seven states, according to Matawalle, was as a result of the security situation in the states, especially the herders and farmers crisis.
“If the plan is well-executed, it will contribute towards having lasting solutions on the security situation bedevilling some parts of the country,” Matawalle said.
The Federal Government had recently launched the programme at the Gongoshi Grazing Reserve in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa state.
The concept is designed to run from 2019-2028 as part of the federal government’s initiative in collaboration with States under the auspices of the NEC.
