Drama As Osinbajo’s Ex-Aide Kicks Against Tinubu Latest Approval

Laolu Akande, former spokesman and close ally of ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has kicked against the latest approval made by President Bola Tinubu.

Akande expressed doubts about the necessity of a Ministry of Livestock Development to address farmers-herders clashes in Nigeria.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu approved the establishment of the new ministry as part of efforts to mitigate the long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders. However, Akande suggested that the lack of will and expertise in implementing the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) is the real issue, not the absence of a dedicated ministry.

“I am not sure that we need a ministry (of livestock),” Akande stated on a Channels TV program. “Based on what is available to me now, I am not entirely certain that we would need a ministry to do this (curb farmers-herders clashes). But let’s wait for more details.”

Nigeria has struggled with decades-long clashes between herders and farmers, driven by disputes over land, pasture, and water access, resulting in significant loss of lives and property. Various measures, including the NLTP and bans on open grazing, have been introduced by previous administrations and state governments to address the issue.

Akande emphasized that effective implementation of the NLTP, introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, could resolve the clashes and modernize Nigeria’s livestock industry.

“The National Livestock Transformation Plan, if it is effectively implemented, is going to solve the problem of the farmer-herder clashes and is going to modernise the livestock industry in our country,” he stated.