MACBAN President Pledges Pastoralists’ Support for Tinubu in 2027 Over Creation of Livestock Ministry

Baba Othman Ngelzarma, National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has described the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as the fulfilment of a demand pastoralist communities had pursued for decades.

He made the remarks at a national appreciation rally in Kaduna State, where pastoralist organisations from across the country expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s livestock development reforms.

In a report on Channels Television’s Newsroom Series, the groups described the creation of the ministry as an important step towards addressing longstanding challenges in the livestock sector.

Ngelzarma said the establishment of the ministry during the first six months of Tinubu’s tenure showed that the federal government had responded to an issue that pastoralist communities had continued to raise.

He explained that the ministry was something the groups had wanted for a long time, adding that its creation had given them a reason to express appreciation to the president.

The MACBAN president also said the pastoralist organisations had made a commitment to support Tinubu in the 2027 general election. He presented the pledge as a way of acknowledging what he described as the administration’s gesture towards the livestock sector.

The rally also provided an opportunity for the groups to express their willingness to work with the federal government on improving livestock productivity, promoting peace and creating more economic opportunities for people involved in the industry.

Minister of Livestock Development Idi Melha said the government was working to strengthen the policy foundation for transforming the sector. He also highlighted efforts to bring veterinary services closer to livestock farmers across the country.

At the event, Ngelzarma said, “this is something that we have been looking for and agitating for over decades.”

He added that the groups had made a commitment to support the president in the next general election, saying, “we have pledged to assure President Tinubu of our support come 2027.”

Watch the video from 11:19 to 11:45.