The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has explained why President Bola Tinubu decided to establish the new Ministry of Livestock Development at a time when complaints were rife against the high cost of governance in the country.
Responding to the question at a briefing after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Bola Tinubu yesterday, Fagbemi said the creation of the ministry was expedient and was for the public good.
He said, “The President formerly informed Council that a ministry known as Ministry of Livestock Development is being established and this is because he believes that the Ministry of Agriculture should be broken into two.
One concentrating on livestock development because of what we stand to achieve in terms of protein; in terms of employment; in terms of earnings for the government and how this one will rub off on the lives of an ordinary Nigerian citizen.
“So, in respect of the Ministry of Livestock Development, in relation to the government policy of reducing governance, to every general rule, there must be an exception.
“What will dictate the decision of the government? What is guiding the addition of government or action or reaction of government is the overall interest of Nigerian citizens.
“So, in respect of this livestock, the President has taken a very serious look at the contribution of agriculture. Agriculture, now divided into two, having announced that there is going to be another ministry, it goes without saying that those implications will also go with it.
“I agree that that may cost money, but it will be done in a way that the benefits will by far outweigh the losses or the concern that you may express.
I have talked about this livestock and I said one, apart from improving the protein intake of our people, it also provides money for the government because it’s going to be on a large scale that will ensure money or revenue for the government, and there is also going to be increased employment opportunities for people. So these are some of the areas that I think I should clear.”
