‘Cattle colony’ll be beneficial to every Nigerian if…’

Awka

A former Secretary General to the Anambra state government and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate at last gubernatorial poll in the state, Oseloka Obaze, has said that the federal government’s proposed cattle colony would be beneficial to every Nigerian “if well planned and executed.”
Obaze, who was a guest lecturer at the fourth annual lecture series organised by the Department of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said the policy would help the country to diversify its economy, as well as creates wealth and employment more than oil and gas sector which currently drives the country’s economy.
He said: “We need to start looking at how the nation can embrace and benefit from the cattle economy. Not doing so will mean sections of the country being averse and hostile toward those who legitimately engage in the business as well as those in the violent fringe that engages in killings in order to provide food for their herd and protect their livelihood.
“Reforming Nigeria’s cattle rearing and trade methods will boost the nation’s earnings not just from beef, milk, butter and cheese, but from export of hides and skins. Presently, because Nigerians consume cow hide known locally as ponmo, the nation is losing out on the global leather market that is valued at $75 billion annually, from its non export of cow hides.
“Brazil which initiated cattle industry reforms wiThexpansive ranching has assumed the status of the world’s largest exporter of cattle meat with 213 million cattle, generating $1.2 billion in 2012 and providing 360, 000 direct jobs. In Nigeria, of the 7.5 million cattle slaughtered annually for beef, which represent N25 million turn-over, 85% of the beef is sold in the open markets; 5% to fast food chains, 3% in retail stores, 3% to institutions, 3% to restaurants, and 1% to supermarkets.”
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, represented by his Deputy (DVC Academics), Prof. Charles Esimone, said the theme of the lecture, “The Political Economy of Cattle Colony in Nigeria,” was apt because university system must strive to assist in providing solutions to societal challenges one of which is the cattle herders and farmers conflicts which have been claiming lives of many Nigerians.”

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