President Bola Tinubu on Monday reiterated his expectation that the National Economic Council conference would produce actionable resolutions on ranching, livestock investment, and agricultural diversification.
Tinubu said he would play his part in ensuring the reforms are delivered.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day NEC conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President linked the imperative for livestock sector transformation to national security, describing banditry and terrorism as economic hindrances requiring immediate solutions.
“I’m confident that the resolution of this conference will include dairy farming, livestock investment, ranches and diversification of our agricultural produce. I promise you here, I will play my part. I promise Nigeria that this will be delivered,” Tinubu said.
The President’s remarks follows his earlier directive to Vice President Kashim Shettima and the NEC on December 10, 2025 to develop a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry through ranching as a lasting solution to persistent farmer-herder conflicts.
At the December 10 Federal Executive Council meeting, Tinubu had tasked Shettima, who chairs the NEC, to sensitise governors and stakeholders on implementing ranching reforms, while directing the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, to identify villages and grazing areas that could be rehabilitated into modern ranches.
“We must eliminate these areas of conflict and make the livestock reform economically viable. The opportunity is there, let’s utilise it,” the President had said at the FEC meeting.
Following that directive, the NEC at its 155th meeting held on December 18, 2025, inaugurated a Livestock Development Committee chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, with representatives from all six geopolitical zones, to fast-track nationwide ranching and livestock production reforms.
At Monday’s conference, Tinubu also pledged further commitment to strengthening security forces to defeat terrorism and banditry, which he said had kept Nigerians sleepless.
“To further find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism and combat banditry, that I promise you is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience,” he said.
He described banditry and terrorism as foreign to Nigerian culture and unacceptable, adding, “It is an economic hindrance if we do not find immediate solution to it.”
He thanked Vice President Kashim Shettima for steering the council in what he called intellectual deliberations in the past three years.
The President also commended several state governors, particularly those of Borno and Katsina states, for their efforts in defending freedom, liberty, and the commonwealth.
“I commend a few many of you, particularly the governor of Borno State, Katsina, many of you who have done so much to defend our freedom, liberty and our commonwealth,” he said.
The President arrived at the conference venue at 12:12 pm before formally declaring the second edition of the National Economic Council conference open.
Vice President Shettima is presiding over the conference convened by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, under the theme ‘Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan.’
The conference, which holds on February 9 and 10, is expected to address pressing macroeconomic priorities including fiscal coordination, investment mobilisation, and shared development strategies between federal and state governments.
State governors, top government officials, development partners, and private-sector leaders are participating as the Federal Government works to deepen its reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Stephen Angbulu @thePUNCH
