Presidency, Macban meets wild cows, children outside of school in Abuja

The president of Nigeria and the leadership of the Miyetti Cattle Breeder Association of God Nigeria (Macban), has opened a dialogue aimed at ending the threat of an lost cow and children outside of school in Abuja, Federal Capital Region (FCT).

The meeting which was held on Saturday in the example of Sultan Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was the Chairperson of the Macanan Supervisory Board, was attended by the Minister of Animal Husbandry Development, Idi Maiha, High Government Officials, Educational Officials and Leaders of Fulani Shepherds in Six FCT Regional Councils.

The Senior Special Assistant for the Tinubu Bola President on Livestock Development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, who spoke in the name of the president in dialogue, insisted that the current government was determined to overcome the problem of cows that deviate in Abuja once and for all.

“We are here for the meeting of the involvement of stakeholders to dialogue with livestock stakeholders and explain the administrative efforts of Tinubu,” Abiola-Ajimobi emphasized.

“First of all we have to solve the issue of shepherd reserves. We are working on farms, special agro-industry processing zones, revive reserves, provide feed and livestock where shepherds can find safe zones with social facilities, water, veterinary clinics, and health care.”

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Special Assistant Minister of Education about Almajiri and Children Outside School, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, who also spoke at the meeting, stressed that the government also binds livestock reform with an educational program that targets pastoralist children.

According to him, the nomadic, mini-couples, electricity, veterinary and medical facilities are part of the shepherd backup plan around Abuja.

“They are ready to move to herding reserves, as long as the facilities are there. Education is the main component. We must ensure that every child in functional learning,” Kakale said.

In his presentation, the National President of Macban, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, acknowledged that its members were the center of the cattle crisis that were lost and the shepherd children who were the majority of children outside of school who were estimated outside of school.

“Eighty percent of them belong to the shepherd children. We want to make Abuja as a model. That is why we invite stakeholders, including leaders from the six FCT regional councils and families who are roaming on the streets.