Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Maiha, made the disclosure on Tuesday at the 2025 Media Retreat in Kaduna.
The event was themed “Driving Livestock Growth through Strategic Communication”.
According to the minister, the effort of the FG is to seek peace among stakeholders, adding that the ministry will in the coming weeks will unveil a national peace campaign aimed at ending farmer-herder conflicts across the country.
He said, “In a few weeks, the ministry will embark on a national peace campaign to achieve sustainable peace between farmers and herders, organised groups, and communities across the country.
“On Friday, we had a robust engagement with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as part of our moves to relocate animals roaming the city centre in Abuja to grazing reserves.
“We need peace. We must give ourselves peace.”
Maiha also urged state governments to be committed to seeking peace between herders and farmers.
“We cannot keep on losing members of our armed forces to bad elements. We are working with all the security agencies to silence the guns.
“Our focus is to have a country with truckloads of milk and not armoured personnel carriers. Milking machines should replace machine guns,” he said.
Stating that the livestock sector is a key driver of wealth creation, job opportunities, food security, and rural stability, Maiha added that the sector will be prioritised to get the right policies, programmes, projects, and activities in the next five years.
“Following this retreat, we expect you to leverage your skills to further amplify the narrative of the livestock sector.
“We appreciate the influence of your profession and hope you will continue to use your pen strategically and positively in reporting on the sector.
“Your reporting has been instrumental in shaping public understanding of our policies and influencing the responses of farmers, herders, investors, and other stakeholders,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, said the retreat underscored the media’s role in shaping public understanding of government initiatives.
Akujobi, represented by Dr Victor Egbon, Director of Ruminants and Monogastric Development said effective communication was about fostering trust, shaping perceptions, and inspiring meaningful action.
“Media play a critical role in interpreting policies, reporting on developments, and conveying the realities of events, activities, interventions, and programmes to Nigerians and the global community.
“Through this strategic partnership, we will address the challenges inherent in the sector and explore the abundant opportunities available.
“This retreat aims to enhance your proficiency in covering the livestock sector, elevate your work, and strengthen our partnership,” Akujobi said.
