Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired a key economic advisory meeting on Thursday focused on advancing reforms in Nigeria’s livestock industry, including plans to convert grazing reserves into modern ranches to curb conflicts and boost productivity.
The 156th session of the National Economic Council, held in a hybrid format at the presidential villa in Abuja, convened at 4:17 pm and built on directives from President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the rehabilitation of grazing areas.
This marks the second such gathering since Tinubu instructed the council last month to collaborate with the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development on identifying suitable sites for ranching initiatives.
Attendees included NEC representatives from the country’s six geo-political zones—Bauchi for the North-East, Niger for North-Central, Ondo for South-West, Imo for South-East, Cross River for South-South, and Kebbi for North-West—alongside a specialized committee on livestock development led by Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris.
Ministers for Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Security, and Budget and Economic Planning were also present, as was the president’s senior aide on agribusiness.
The agenda centered on crafting a comprehensive roadmap for overhauling the livestock sector, reviewing proposals from the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the ministry, and pinpointing states eager to participate in the program.
At the prior 155th NEC meeting on December 18, 2025, the livestock committee was formally launched to accelerate nationwide production and ranching reforms through inter-agency cooperation.
Tinubu, addressing a cabinet session on December 10, 2025, underscored the urgency: “We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there. Let’s utilise it.”
Officials indicated that further details from the discussions would be released soon, as the government seeks to modernize an industry plagued by farmer-herder clashes and untapped economic potential.
