Professor Attahiru Jega, special adviser to the president and national coordinator of the presidential livestock reform initiative, has warned that Nigeria risks facing severe protein shortages and worsening food insecurity unless urgent steps are taken to address the lingering farmer-herder conflicts and underinvestment in the livestock sector.
Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made this known on Tuesday.
He said the growing threat is caused by the violent clashes between herders and farmers, alongside the government’s failure to make strategic investments in livestock development.
According to him, these factors are undermining national efforts to ensure sustainable food production and adequate protein supply.
“Nigeria is fast approaching an acute protein deficit due to worsening conflicts in rural communities and a lack of adequate investment in the livestock value chain,” he said.
He noted that livestock, which is a major source of dietary protein for millions of Nigerians, is being severely affected by insecurity, displacement, and inefficient production systems.
Jega also pointed to the economic implications of the crisis, stressing that the country could face long-term nutritional and developmental challenges if livestock reform is not prioritised.
He called on federal and state governments to fast-track the implementation of the national livestock transformation plan (NLTP) to provide sustainable solutions to the perennial conflict and boost livestock productivity.
The presidential livestock reform initiative, coordinated by Jega, is aimed at modernising the sector, improving livestock management, and reducing friction between pastoralists and farming communities.
His comments come amid continued displacement of rural populations due to violent clashes, as well as growing concerns over Nigeria’s reliance on expensive food imports to meet local protein needs.