President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday officially activated his newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock development.
The activation follows the announcement of Mr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha as the substantive minister of the new ministry.
Mr. Maiha is one of the 7 newly appointed ministers. His name and those of his colleagues will be sent to the Senate for confirmation.
According to a statement issued by the presidency, the creation of the FMLD and the appointment of Mr. Maiha and his 6 other colleagues were a part of eight far-reaching decisions taken to reinvigorate Tinubu’s administrative capacity for optimal performance.
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The move also reaffirms the president’s resolve to end the persistent clashes between herders and crop farmers. It ask signals the transformation of the livestock sector to a major non-oil driver of the Nigerian economy.
Constitution of Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms
President Tinubu had in July inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms. The among other things were to proffer workable solutions to address the obstacles to agricultural productivity. They are to also suggest opportunities which will benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain.
The committee was chaired by a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Briefing journalists after submission of its 152 pages report to the President in September, Jega said the report also captures a detailed operational guideline for the newly created Ministry of Livestock development announced by the President.
Who is Idi Mukhtar Maiha
Mr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha before his appointment was the Chief Executive Officer of Zaidi Farms Nigeria limited. In 2016, he served as the Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
Seven other Decisions
Apart from the activation of FMLD and appointment of Maiha and his 6 other colleagues, the 7 other decision taken by the President are:
- The remaining of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to Minister of Regional Affairs.
- Immediate winding up of Ministry of Sports Development and transfer of its functions to National Sport Commission.
- The merging of Federal Ministry of Tourism and Federal Ministry of of Art and Culture to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.
- Reassignment of 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios.
- isengagement of 5 ministers; nomination of 7 new ministers for onwards transmission to Senate for confirmation.
- Appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman, National Sports Commission.
- Appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications Orientation working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
