All You Need To Know About NLTP After Suspension of RUGA Settlement

By Iselowo Kolawole Kehinde

Questions and answers for the proposed Chat on RUGA.

Question 1. What is the NLTP?

National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) is a strategic layout plan with a focused effort in redefining the agricultural sub-sector to act as a catalyst for building national prosperity.

Question 2. So what is the concept of NLTP?

The concept behind NLTP is to bring together private investors, catalytic government services and capital, and targeted donor support using classic value chain building tools designed to deliver for Nigeria the livestock sector transformation that multiple countries have gone through from Paraguay and Brazil to Zambia and Ethiopia.

Question 3. Would the FG collect lands from States to create the NLTP?

No, the Project for Agricultural Coordination and Execution (PACE) Secretariat domiciled in the office of the Vice President will initially support the development of pilot ranches in each of 7 pilot states (Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara ).

States can also opt-in with private land provisions to help shape the success of the pilot phase. States’ participation is voluntary and only states willing to participate would be supported.

Each state is responsible to put in place  a  suitable delivery mechanism for the NLTP. PACE will  support them and suggests a structure that mirrors  its own.

Question 4. Why is the NEC bothered about the burden with the States? 

Nomadic livestock production in Nigeria involves a lot of itinerant migration cutting across several borders of states, hence it’s imperative we create a conducive environment for transformation of the livestock sector that will lead to peaceful coexistence, economic development and food security for the growing population with results and efficacy determined by the following outputs: Transformation, Safety and Security, Effective Productivity and Job Creations and Growth.

Question 5. Is the NLTP for only the Fulani’s? 

No, it’s not only for the Fulani’s. Nigerians population expected to be 250+ million by 2030. This requires an urgent modernization of key elements of the economy in order to generate jobs, household income, and promote social stability.

Pastoralists account for the majority of beef and milk production in Nigeria. Nomadic livestock production in Nigeria is facing major crises and is at a cross road due to the declining availability of pasture and grazing land, overgrazing, and most importantly, the recurrent and fatal conflicts between Pastoralists and crop farmers.

The impacts on food and nutrition security as well as public safety and national security are significant determining factors in social-economic development of the nation and well-being of her citizens, hence directly affects everyone not just the Fulani’s.

Question 6. Would the Fulani eventually settle and take over these dominated areas?

No the Fulani’s wouldn’t settle down and claim the land as the NLTP is for a duration of 10 years, after which data collected based on feedback from the state level and national consultations, strategic intervention areas are proposed that support improved performance and sustainability of livestock production and value addition, underpinned by productive infrastructure and technological interventions along the livestock value chain.

Question 7. Who would manage and coordinate these settlements? 

The co-ordination of the NLTP will be carried out at the Federal level by the NEC NLTP Steering Committee through the Project for Agriculture Coordination & Execution (PACE) Secretariat to be domiciled in the Office of the Vice President.

Question 8. Do the Ohanaze, Ndigbo, Afenifere and other cultural organizations have to accept the plan of the NLTP? 

No, they don’t have to accept the NLTP as the program would be coordinated at State Levels through the PACE Secretariat under the guidance of the Federal Level by the NEC NLTP STEERING COMMITTEE

Question 9. What are states required to bring forth to implement the NLTP?

States can also opt-in with private land provisions to help shape the success of the pilot phase kicking off with some select 7 states.

Each state is responsible to put in place a  suitable delivery mechanism for the NLTP. PACE will  support them and suggests a structure that mirrors  its own.

Question 10. Why can’t the Fulanis have their own settlement in their states?

No the Fulanis can’t have their own settlements in their state because they are itinerant herdsmen and Pastoralists account for the majority of beef and milk production in Nigeria with Nomadic livestock production in Nigeria facing major crises and is at a cross road due to the declining availability of pasture and grazing land, overgrazing, and most importantly, the recurrent and fatal conflicts between Pastoralists and crop farmers in the country, hence making it a issue of National concern not bound by geo-ethnical limitations.

Question 11. How would the funding for NLTP be generated? 

The funding would be achieved through Federal, State, Private Sector and Development Partners inclusions.