The federal government says it decided to split the ministry of Agriculture and Food Security into two because of the benefits that will be derived.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation, said the proposed ministry would focus on livestock development, leaving the Ministry of Agriculture to concentrate on other areas.
He explained that the move would also “enhance employment opportunities, boost protein production and shore up government revenue.”
The AGF 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 earnings for the government and how this one will rub off on the lives of an ordinary Nigerian citizen.”
According to him, the benefits outweigh the thinking that creating a new ministry was against administration’s cost-cutting measures.
“What will dictate the decision of government, what is guiding the addition of government or action or reaction of government is the overall interest of Nigerian citizen.”
“In respect of this livestock, the President has taken very serious look at the contribution of agriculture. The Agriculture Ministry 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.
“Apart from improving the protein intake of our people, it also provides money for government because he’s going to be on large scale that will ensure money or revenue for government, and there is also going to be increased employment opportunities for people. These are some of the areas that I think I should clear.”
