Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday chaired the 156th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
The hybrid session, which commenced at 4:17 pm local time, marked the council’s second meeting since President Bola Tinubu instructed the NEC to identify existing grazing reserves and rehabilitate them into ranches.
Tinubu issued the directive during the Federal Executive Council meeting held on December 10, 2025, mandating the NEC to work with the Ministry of Livestock Development to design a comprehensive roadmap for reforming Nigeria’s livestock sector.
“We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there. Let’s utilise it,” Tinubu had said.
At its 155th meeting on December 18, 2025, the NEC responded by setting up a livestock development committee to fast-track the rollout of livestock production and ranching reforms across the country.
The committee is chaired by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, and includes representatives from the six geo-political zones: Bauchi (North-East), Niger (North-Central), Ondo (South-West), Imo (South-East), Cross River (South-South), and Kebbi (North-West).
Also on the committee are the Ministers of Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness.
The committee was mandated to assess recommendations from the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the Ministry of Livestock Development, while also identifying states willing to participate in the programme’s implementation.
More details to follow…
