A group, Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria, has appealed to the federal government to rename the Ministry of Livestock Development to make it more effective.

Haruna Buhari, acting secretary of the public policy advocacy unit of GDNN, made this call on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja.

He welcomed the creation of the ministry but noted that it fell short of integrating dairy development, which is essential to make it complete and comprehensive.

Mr Buhari called the government’s attention to the need to scale up the ministry’s mandate and rename it the Ministry for Livestock and Dairy Development.

He described the development as an infringement on the fundamental human rights of innocent, law-abiding Nigerians and called on the government to address the issue. Mr Buhari recommended that the federal government request the UAE authorities grant visa-on-arrival to Nigerians.

According to him, Nigerians hold multiple-entry visas, especially those from the U.S., Canada, Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He noted that this would be a significant step toward resolving the issue and promoting the well-being of Nigerians. Mr Buhari also noted that the Solid Minerals Mining Sector would benefit significantly from being exposed to the same model as the oil and gas sector.

He said the Joint-Venture Cash Calls Model would ensure that host communities become part owners and ultimate beneficiaries of knowledge and technology and the investment proceeds.

This, he said, would bring sanity to the sector, which is currently in a state of disarray. He called on northern governors to syndicate a single loan facility through crowd funding, enabling them to complete the abandoned Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano-Katsina Gas Pipeline Project.

(NAN)