The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has appealed to the federal and state governments to extend palliatives to the pastoralists community amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
MACBAN’s National Secretary, Othman Ngelzarma said the measure would help cushion the effect of the virus on its members.
Ngelzarma made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja.
He lamented the government’s neglect of the pastoralists community despite the pandemic.
Ngelzarma disclosed that herders are the worst affected in any societal vices ranging from cattle rustling, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and the current pandemic.
He said: “I appeal to the government to find ways of extending the palliative to reach the pastoralists community in the country which has been their plight.
“They have been neglected for decades; they have never enjoyed anything from the government till date.
“Even with this pandemic, nothing much is done to them to cushion the effect on pastoralists in the country.
“None of the palliatives designed has reached an average pastoralist community living within the communities in this country.”
