The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has pledged support to the Federal Government’s economic diversification programme through effective utilisation of the livestock sector.

The former Chairman of the association in the North-East zone, Alhaji Mafindi Danburam stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.

He said the association would partner with the federal government in driving its economic diversification programme by harnessing the livestock sector.

“Nigeria needs 10 million litres of milk and other dairy products for daily consumption, and we are importing these products from Canada and other developed countries.

“If the government can assist our members, we will do better than Brazil in terms of milk and meat production because we have the cattle and human resources,” he said.

Danburam also urged the government to reinvigorate nomadic education programmes as a panacea to security challenges facing the country.

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He noted that some of the problems could be traced to the alleged neglect of the nomadic education programme, adding that improved education of the pastoralists was critical to security management in the country.

“Nomadic education has been abandoned for some time and that is why we are having a lot of crimes being perpetrated by the youths.

“Prioritising nomadic education will help address some of the security issues we are having now.

“The programme assist pastoralists to benefit from the policies of the government and to make demands for their rights.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has been giving loans to crop farmers but cattle breeders are not accessing such facility.

“I call on relevant authorities to revive nomadic education, make it functional so that our people will be enlightened to know their rights and support nation-building,” he said.

Danburam who is vying for the MACBAN President said his priority would be to strengthen partnerships towards enlightening cattle breeders.

He said that such an enlightenment campaign would help them to contribute their quota towards promoting peace and unity in the country.

The MACBAN election is scheduled to hold in April in Abuja.