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Livestock Farming: The Untold Story
The last is yet to be heard about how livestock farming is inherently dangerous to the ecosystem, especially drinking water supplies in developing countries.
Indeed, livestock farming the world-over has in the recent times generated public discourse. This follows the discovery that livestock production poses palpable health hazards to the health of humans.
Before now, livestock farming was globally accepted as a good means of boosting economic development and food sufficiency among settlements in developing nations. This, to a great extent, spurred the governments and agencies of some developing countries to give regular assistance to livestock farmers, through the provision of incentives and credit facilities to enable them break-even as well as beef up their economic advancement.
However, disturbed by the way and manner livestock production is being practiced in developing nations, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an affiliate of the United Nations (UN), has cautioned against the establishment of livestock farms in urban centres and in areas close to residential houses.
In one of its recent reports titled, “Livestock Policy Brief”, the UN agency observed with dismay that industrial livestock production in developing nations often causes “severe environmental damage”, especially when meat and dairy factories are crowded around cities or close to water resources.
Indeed, the report asked the governments and the various authorities in developing countries to create incentives for more environmentally friendly dairy and meat production practices, since meat and dairy products have become more widely available in many developing nations.
To halt the unguided livestock farming practices across developing countries, the authorities must evolve regulatory policies and taxes that could discourage the concentration of livestock farms close to residential houses in urban centres as well as cities.
Yes, governments and agencies in the developing countries, including Nigeria, must take seriously the FAO’s caution against livestock farming, in order to safeguard the health of their citizens.
Besides, there is need for authorities in the developing world to put livestock production in check because it is a known fact that major forms of pollution associated with manure management is usually found in intensive livestock production.
What’s more, livestock production in urban areas should also be discouraged because of what has been described as the ‘leaching’ of acid and disease-producing organisms into ground-water, which often threatens drinking water supplies in some developing nations”.
Although livestock production creates vast quantities of manure in developing world, it has also been discovered that the supply of nutrients from livestock farms, damages soil fertilizer. This is why experts are also calling for caution in application of livestock production manure on crops.
Again, another danger in livestock production in the developing world borders principally on the fact that fragile ecosystems such as wetlands, mangrove swamps and coral reels are destroyed.
Therefore, authorities in the deveoping country must now begin to beam their searchlights on livestock farmers in the rural areas. Why? Because livestock farming is done in the most crude manner in the rural communities.
Indeed, it behoves the governments at all levels and other stakeholders to monitor the activities of livestock farmers, operating in the urban centres. That way, disease-producing organisms into groundwater, which is now threatening drinking water supplies will, in no mean way, be halted.
That said, it is imperative to enact laws that would reduce the establishment of livestock farms in urban centres in order to safeguard the health of the people and the ecosystems.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from last Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
This comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
The Tide reports that the council elections were held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, across all six FCT area councils, including Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
Results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
In a statement issued yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party congratulated its candidates, who emerged winners in the chairmanship and councilor elections.
The opposition party acknowledged the victories, noting that the number of wins was lower than expected but significant given the alleged irregularities during the polls.
“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage,” the statement read.
Ememobong claimed that there are reports and video evidence indicating voter intimidation and unlawful conduct that influenced the outcome of the elections.
“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections.”
To address complaints and litigations arising from the polls, he said the party has set up a legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq.
The statement urged candidates with legitimate grievances to contact the Legal Adviser promptly, as delays could jeopardise their chances in election petition cases.
“The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in the electoral outcomes from elections conducted under this Act.
“These Local Council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made,” the statement added.
The PDP called on the National Assembly and the President to take corrective action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will on Wednesday swear in Justice Joseph Oyewole as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The ceremony is scheduled to be held at 2pm at Courtroom Two of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.
The court urged guests to adhere strictly to the court’s protocols and security measures.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Festus Akande.
The court described Oyewole’s appointment as a step towards reinforcing the capacity of the apex court to deliver fair and timely judgments.
Recall that Oyewole was, until his elevation, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division, and joins the apex court bench as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the judiciary.
The National Judicial Council recommended Oyewole for the position alongside 35 others for various judicial offices, following its 110th meeting held on January 13, 2026, and presided over by Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The statement partly read, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, will on Wednesday, 25th February, 2026, preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA.”
According to the statement, Oyewole served with distinction at the Court of Appeal and as Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division prior to his elevation.
“His appointment underscores the commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to upholding the rule of law, ensuring justice, and strengthening the bench with experienced and dedicated jurists. He brings a wealth of legal expertise and integrity to the apex court to further enhance its capacity to deliver fair and timely judgments,” the statement added.
The apex court further described the swearing-in as “another significant step in rejuvenating the judiciary and ensuring the continued delivery of justice in line with the highest standards of integrity, competence, and impartiality.”
The Supreme Court reiterated its commitment to justice, fairness and judicial independence for the benefit of Nigerians.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden passage of Senator Barinada Mpigi, the Senator representing South East Senatorial District of Rivers State.
In a tribute to mourn the deceased, Governor Fubara described Mpigi as a brother, a consummate politician and one of the leading lights in Rivers State.
He said that Mpigi died at a critical time when his services were still needed by the people of Rivers State and prayed God Almighty to grant him eternal rest.
The governor commiserated with his immediate family, the Rivers South East Senatorial District and the Senate at large, asking them to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a good life and impacted positively on the people.
Senator Mpigi died at the age of 64. Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works.
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