Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN), has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of abandoning the pastoralists in the country, expressing that his administration has done nothing for them in the last eight years.
The president of the association, Baba-Othman Ngelzarma, who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja, stated that the State government and Federal Government’s budgetary provision for livestock is pitiful.
According to him, “Buhari has abandoned the pastoralists. This is very clear; whether Buhari or his lieutenants believe this or not, the pastoralists have been abandoned by the government. 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 an illiterate without any form of organisation? The government is getting nothing, instead of benefiting a lot. Cattle business is next to oil; livestock is next to oil. It can sustain the economy of this country with harnessing and organisation. There’s nothing wasteful in the cow. Imagine the value chain – everything on the cow is money”, Ngelzarma stated.
