Tinubu appoints former INEC chairman as presidential adviser on livestock reforms

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as Adviser and Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Initiative.

The appointment was announced on Friday evening in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential adviser on information and strategy. This move signals a renewed effort by the administration to address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Before his appointment, Jega served as the co-chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee.

Last year, Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to transforming the country’s livestock sector into a commercialized industry. He lamented the long-standing neglect of livestock farming at a commercial level, noting that Nigeria could have benefited immensely had the sector been properly developed.

In 2023, the president approved the establishment of a livestock committee to address clashes between herders and farmers, as well as to strengthen the livestock and dairy industries.

The committee was formed after Tinubu received a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.