By Pascal Ibe
In many WhatsApp groups, the designations in the newly created Ministry of Livestock have been circulating.
A photo of a building and cows in front of it was attached to this post.
The designations shared in many WhatsApp groups are as follows:
“So for the new Livestock Ministry,
•So we have Minister of Livestock Affairs
•Perm Sec, Ministry of Livestock Affairs
•Director, Goat
•Director, Cow
•Director, Sheep
•Director, Grass for Cow, •Sheep and Goat
•Director, Slaughter •Houses
•Director, Milk
•Director, Kpomo
•Director, Orishirishi.
“Jungle has fully matured.“
On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu indicated that his government would create a new livestock ministry as part of efforts to improve meat and dairy production and reduce violence between migrant herders and farmers.
The president announced the possible creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development at the State House, Abuja, during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee.
“When you have a great opportunity like this, why should Nigeria continue in conflict with the calibre of the people that are here?” the Nigerian leader said.
Greeted With Criticism
The announcement was met with widespread disapproval by Nigerians who believe that Nigeria needed no such ministry different from Agric ministry.
Critics argue that the creation of the ministry of livestock development will amount to a duplication of efforts with the ministry of agriculture.
In feature by BusinessDay, the lack of clarity surrounding the specific responsibilities of the new ministry, has fueled fears that the ministry may be used as a tool for political patronage.
A diaspora group, the Nigeria Professionals in Diaspora, NPID,, asserted that creation of Livestock Ministry by President Bola Tinubu is sheer waste of taxpayers’ money.
Verification
To ascertain if the designations shared in many WhatsApp groups are true, FactWatch checked the announcement of the creation of the Ministry of Livestock on Tuesday.
In the report by Vanguard news, President Tinubu did not mention the name of the Minister for the new ministry as it is expected that he has to forward the name to the Senate for screening and confirmation if it’s a new nominee.
Also, the president did not list any designations in the new Ministry of Livestock
While President Tinubu will chair the committee on livestock reforms, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, is the deputy chairman.
The committee is expected to propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.
He set up the committee after receiving a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.
The committee, chaired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, gave President Tinubu 21 recommendations, including creating a Ministry of Livestock Resources.
Image Altered
When an image shared in many WhatsApp groups with the designations in new Ministry of Livestock which depicted the building of the ministry was subjected to image detector, results from Hive Moderation showed it was 99% AI generated.
Verdict
This designations in the newly created Ministry of Livestock is FALSE.
The photo attached to it is AI generated.
