In a move to address growing concerns around security and agricultural productivity, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has called for Nigeria to transition from traditional livestock farming methods to modern, more sustainable practices.
The call was made during Thursday’s NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Discussions took on a sense of urgency as the council reviewed recent outbreaks of violence in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kwara, where a number of lives have been lost due to escalating attacks.
The council stressed that modernizing the livestock sector could help curb conflicts between herders and farmers while also boosting food security and economic growth.
The National Economic Council (NEC), led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt modern livestock farming methods to curb recurring violence and boost agricultural productivity. The call was made during Thursday’s NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where national security and economic issues were high on the agenda.
In attendance were several governors, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)—alongside Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River. Deputy governors from other states also participated in the meeting.
Addressing the press after the session, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri emphasized the council’s consensus on the need to move forward with modern livestock management strategies.
“The council emphasized the fact that we cannot continue to live in the past, and we must now work towards modernizing livestock production in Nigeria,” Diri said.
Diri explained that outdated methods of animal rearing have contributed significantly to the ongoing clashes between farmers and herders across many regions. To address this, the newly formed Ministry of Livestock Development has rolled out the Accelerated Livestock Development and Growth Strategy, aiming to grow the sector’s income to between $70 billion and $90 billion by 2035.
Rising Tensions in the Middle Belt
The push for reform comes amid a wave of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue attributed recent attacks in Ukum and Logo local government areas to “suspected herdsmen.” The conflict, often driven by competition over land, has taken on ethnic and religious undertones, as herders—primarily Muslim Fulani—clash with mostly Christian farming communities.
In Plateau State alone, over 100 people have been killed this month in two separate attacks by unidentified gunmen. More than 50 of those deaths occurred in just two districts. Local officials have labeled the atrocities as “genocide” and blamed terrorist elements for sponsoring the violence.
While herders’ groups have condemned the killings, they have also claimed that their members have been targeted by retaliatory attacks from farmers. These cycles of violence are often intensified by the government’s limited presence in rural communities, where security forces are scarce and residents frequently resort to vigilante justice.
Climate and Conflict
Experts warn that the situation may worsen as climate change and population growth continue to shrink available land in the Middle Belt. These pressures, combined with under-policed rural areas, have turned resource disputes into deadly confrontations.
As NEC pushes for a modern approach to livestock production, many hope the strategy will help reduce tensions, promote peaceful coexistence, and revitalize rural economies.
