Osinbajo, Governors Proposes 100 Bln Funding For Livestock Programme (Ruga)

The National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has proposed a budget of 100 billion naira for the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which was a version Ruga programme jettisoned by the early in the year due to public outcry.

At the conclusion of the NEC meeting in Abuja, Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi announced the decision of his sub-committee of the economic council.
Umahi explained that contrary to the widely held belief, the NLTP was not about cows alone but had three planks, including care for persons displaced by farmers/herders’ crisis and education programmes.
Also, states are free to use any animals of their choice in implementing the programme.
The governor said the committee proposed that the Federal Government would bear 80 percent of the budget while participating states would support with the balance of 20 percent and land for the programme.
He added that the programme remained voluntary and would accommodate only states that expressed participation interest.
However, there is no effective take-off date yet as the proposed fund will still be reviewed by the next meeting in October before a date is decided.
Meanwhile, Nigeria lost $1.3bn worth of crude oil to theft and pipeline vandalism in the First Quarter od the year.
This was presented to NEC by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.