Fulani Leaders Demand 30% Agricultural Budget for Livestock

Fulani leaders, represented by Abdullahi Ardo, General Secretary of the Kautal Pulaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, have made several demands to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly during an international press conference in Abuja. They are calling for at least 30% of Nigeria’s agricultural budget to be allocated to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

The leaders emphasized the need to protect the country’s 417 grazing reserves and establish pilot ranches across the six geopolitical zones. They expressed concern that the ministry, created in 2024, remains underfunded and lacks a clear operational framework.

The coalition described the livestock sector as a N30 trillion economy and highlighted the necessity for adequate funding to improve livestock management and resolve conflicts between herders and farmers. They urged the ministry to extend its activities to local communities facing challenges related to grazing land, water, and animal health services.