Governors Move to End Farmer Herder Clashes with New Livestock Committee

Nigeria’s governors have taken a decisive step toward resolving the long-running farmer–herder crisis, setting up a national committee on livestock development aimed at restoring peace, strengthening food security and modernising livestock production. The decision was reached at the 155th meeting of the National Economic Council, held virtually with governors of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in attendance.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who presided over the meeting, urged state leaders to rise above temporary fixes and work toward practical, lasting and widely accepted solutions to the conflict. He stressed that food security is not just an economic priority but a moral obligation, warning that Nigeria cannot feed itself sustainably without confronting the roots of the violence that has disrupted rural livelihoods for years.

The move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to governors to use their constitutional powers over land to help resolve the crisis. At a recent Federal Executive Council meeting, the President called for available land to be identified and converted into ranches as part of a broader security and economic reform agenda designed to curb communal violence and unlock new opportunities in agriculture.

Under the new arrangement, the livestock committee will be chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and draws representation from all six geopolitical zones, alongside key federal ministers and the President’s agribusiness team. The body is expected to fast-track the implementation of livestock reforms and guide interested states toward practical rollout.

Discussions at the council meeting reflected the gravity of the crisis, with Shettima acknowledging the deep mistrust and pain caused by years of violence. He described the conflict as a tragedy born from mismanaged coexistence, lamenting the loss of lives, destroyed homes and ruined farmlands, and warning that the unrest now cuts across every region of the country.

The Vice President praised President Tinubu’s push to reposition livestock production as a central pillar of the national economy, noting that well-managed reforms could turn a source of conflict into a driver of growth, stability and rural prosperity. He encouraged governors to take seriously the proposals presented by the Ministry of Livestock Development and the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee.

According to Shettima, the pathway forward lies in recognising that agriculture and security are inseparable. By modernising livestock systems, reducing competition over land and water, and restoring confidence in rural economies, he said Nigeria can begin to heal fractured communities while building a more resilient food system for the future.