President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof. Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as Presidential Adviser and Coordinator of Presidential Livestock Reforms.

The appointment was announced by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.

“Breaking: President Bola Tinubu appoints Professor Attahiru Jega as Presidential Adviser and Coordinator of Presidential Livestock Reforms,” Onanuga posted.

Jega, who served as INEC chairman from 2010 to 2015, played a pivotal role in overseeing Nigeria’s 2011 and 2015 general elections.

Tinubu’s Push for Livestock Reforms

The appointment aligns with Tinubu’s broader strategy to address Nigeria’s farmers-herders crisis. In July 2024, the president established the Ministry of Livestock Development, a move aimed at implementing sector-specific policies to tackle the long-standing conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders.

Following recommendations from the National Livestock Reforms Committee, the newly created Ministry of Livestock Resources is tasked with developing sustainable solutions to mitigate the recurring tensions and violence between agricultural and pastoral communities across the country.