Association Calls on Tinubu To Establish Ministry of Pastoralist Affairs 

The Coalition of Pastoralists Association in Nigeria, COPAN has called on the incoming President, BolaA Tinubu to establish the Federal Ministry of Pastoralist Affairs.

The Association said the Ministry would help in managing issues around the aspect of the economy in line with global best practice as obtainable in most neighbouring and other ECOWAS member countries.

The group made the call at a joint press conference in Abuja attended by the National President Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN Dr. Baba Ngelzarma, President General, Fulbe Global Development and Rights Initiative, FGDRI, Dr. Salim Umar as well as Vice President, Tabital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Alh Auwal Gonga.

The group said, the ministry would be charged with the responsibility of harmonizing and managing the affairs of both farmers and Pastoralists, instead of living it in the hands of security agencie.

The Cattle Breeders however, expressed optimism that the incoming President, would restore peace between herders and farmers.

Speaking through President General, Fulbe Global Development and Rights Initiative, FGDRI Dr. Salim Umar, the Pastoralists Association frowned at the recent attacks of its communities by armed men and bandits across the country.

Umar said, the recent attacks on pastoralists occured in communities in Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Gombe and Niger States in the space of One month.

The cattle breaders claimed that, Buhari as a cattle breeder himself ought to have brought cattle breeders and farmers together with a view to finding amicable solution to the persistent conflicts that had led to loss of several lives in virtually all states of the federation.

COPAN, in addition, called on the Nigerian government to set a mechanism of resettling the victims of the attacks urgently to ameliorate their suffering.

The spokesperson further advice elected officials at all levels of government to be responsive to anything that would escalate insecurity in the country.

The Vice President, Tabital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Dr. Salim Musa who also spoke at the forum demanded that the incoming President should look into activities of security agents in charge of volatile areas and mandate them to do more in protecting innocent people, who are continuously harassed by the activities of those described as criminal vigilante and bandits.

Besides, they called on the security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved to serve as a deterrent to other criminally minded individuals.

Confidence Okwuchi