Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday chaired the 156th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The hybrid session, which commenced at 4:17 pm local time, marks the council’s second gathering since President Bola Tinubu instructed NEC to convert grazing reserves into ranches.
Tinubu issued the directive during the Federal Executive Council meeting on December 10, 2025.
The President called on NEC to work with the Ministry of Livestock Development to create a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector, emphasising that the reform should prevent conflicts and become an economically viable development. “The opportunity is there. Let’s utilise it,” he stated.
At the previous 155th meeting on December 18, 2025, NEC set up a committee on livestock development to fast-track nationwide ranching and livestock production reforms.
Chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, the committee includes representatives from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, Bauchi (North-East), Niger (North-Central), Ondo (South-West), Imo (South-East), Cross River (South-South), and Kebbi (North-West).
Other members comprise the Ministers of Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness.
The panel’s mandate is to review proposals from the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the Ministry of Livestock Development and to identify states willing to participate in the programme.