Details Of VP Osinbajo’s Meeting With Governors

David Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State, said during the National Economic Council meeting presided over by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, that the National Livestock Transformation Plan is not meant for cows alone but to address all challenges of animal husbandry in the country.

YaahooJournalist reports that the meeting took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. The Governor stated that the NTLP was meant to address farmers/herders’ crisis.

“As the chairman of the sub-committee of NEC on herders/farmers clashes, the NEC was briefed.”

“The chairman of NEC reminded NEC that the committee was to address the farmers/herders crisis.”

“The committee presented the NLTP (2019-2028) today; the plan is not only targeted at cows but a holistic strategy to address animal husbandry”.

Speaking after the meeting, Governor Umahi noted that that the plan has six pillars, conflict resolution, justice and peace, humanitarian relief and early recovery for IDPs, human capital development, cross-cutting issues, and economic development.

The Governor noted that the committee proposed an implementation guideline to guide the Federal Government and states.

According to the governor, a N100 billion budget was proposed by the committee to support the project.

The Ebonyi governor said that the Federal Government would contribute 80 percent in grant to support states, while states would contribute land, project implementation structure, personnel and 20 percent cost of the project.

Governor Umahi said the council resolved that there was the need to look at the trans-human West African Regional Protocol.

“You cannot allow the movement of cattle without registration and monitoring; council emphasised the need to continue to establish that the Livestock Transformation Plan is a creation of the NEC and state governors.”

“And of course the Ministers of Agriculture and Interior are members of the sub-committee and it is entirely distinct from RUGA.”

“NEC adopted the NLTP on Jan. 18, 2019, it is a creation of the NEC in liaison with the Federal Government.”

“States will determine whether or not they are willing to participate; each state in Nigeria is free to determine whether such states are willing to participate.”

“The Federal Government did not, and we repeat, did not, impose this plan; participation remains voluntary; what we talk about is NLTP, which is a product of NEC, in liaison with the Federal Government”