Despite Our Support To Become President, Buhari Abandoned Pastoralists- MACBAN

Baba Ngelzarma, the national president of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has lamented that despite supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid in 2019, he abandoned pastoralists.

Ngelzarma, former secretary of the association who was recently elected president, said this on Saturday night in a chat with journalists in Abuja.

The MACBAN president said while huge sums of money have been voted for the development of agriculture in the country, little or nothing has been earmarked for animal husbandry.

“On the eve of the last election that brought in Buhari for the second term, we endorsed him. We showed the world that we are with him but thereafter, up till now as I speak to you, nothing has been done,” he said.

“Buhari has abandoned the pastoralists. This is very clear, whether Buhari or his lieutenants, the pastoralists have been abandoned by the government. In the last eight years, nothing tangible… while over N500 billion was spent on agronomy, nothing was spent on livestock, almost nothing.

“Go and check all the state government’s budgetary provisions including the federal government’s budgetary provisions. If you see what is budgeted for livestock, you will be surprised.

“Livestock is being neglected completely.”