By danivert,President Bola Ahmed

Copyright thesun

…as Livestock Minister vows to relocate cows out of Abuja city centre

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

Following the growing spate of farmer-herder clashes in the country, the Federal Government has announced plans to launch a National Peace Campaign to end the deadly attacks.

This is in addition to plans to relocate cows and other livestock from Abuja city centre to designated grazing areas.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi-Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this at a media retreat in Abuja, while stressing the need for peace in rural communities to enhance food security, job creation, and national stability.

The Minister stated: “Our countryside should have purpose, not armoured carriers. Milking machines must replace machine guns. We want peace, and we need peace to develop.”

He explained that the Ministry—established in July 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—has developed a National Livestock Development Strategy (NLDS) to serve as a five-year policy guide.

The strategy, he noted, draws from two decades of agricultural policy documents and aims to boost productivity while reducing conflict.

“Already, 16 states have created livestock ministries or related structures in line with the federal government’s vision” he said.

In her welcome remarks, Chinyere Akujobi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by Victor Egbon, Director of Ruminants and Monogastric Development, said the retreat’s theme—“Driving Livestock Growth through Strategic Communication”—underscores the media’s role in shaping public understanding of government initiatives.

“Communication is about fostering trust, shaping perception, and inspiring meaningful action. Who better to accomplish this than journalists?” she noted.

The retreat, the first since the Ministry’s establishment, is designed to build the capacity of reporters in livestock sector reporting, digital strategies, and development communication, while strengthening collaboration between the government and the media.