President Bola Tinubu has appointed Attahiru Jega, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the adviser and coordinator for the presidential livestock reforms initiative.
Gatekeepers News reports that this appointment was announced by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential adviser on information and strategy, in a statement released on Friday evening.
This move represents a significant step in the government’s efforts to tackle long-standing challenges within Nigeria’s livestock sector. Prior to this role, Jega served as the co-chairman of the presidential livestock reforms implementation committee.
In 2023, President Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a commercialized industry. He expressed concern over the long-standing neglect of livestock farming at a commercial level, noting the substantial benefits Nigeria could have gained had the sector received more attention.
To further these goals, the president established a livestock committee aimed at addressing conflicts between herders and farmers, as well as enhancing the livestock and dairy industries. This committee was formed following a report from the national conference focused on livestock reforms and the mitigation of related conflicts in Nigeria.
