Adekoya Samson, Abuja
Hon. Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa has appealed to the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of a bill seeking to establish the National Grassland and Forage/Fodder Production Research Institute in Guma, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Speaking during a one-day public he
aring on livestock development, the lawmaker said the proposed institute is central to the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Programme and will play a major role in resolving long-standing challenges in the livestock sector.
Gamawa explained that livestock farmers currently travel long distances—from the North to the East and South—in search of animal feed, exposing them to insecurity and escalating tensions across communities.
“You all know the challenges our rural communities are facing,” he said. “Farmers travel far for feed, and along those routes we see clashes, insecurity, and ev
en claims of genocide because of these conflicts. Establishing this institute will reduce these challenges significantly.”
He stressed that the institute would produce high-quality forage and fodder locally, with potential branches that could serve multiple regions, eliminating the need for long-distance feed sourcing. “Our farmers won’t have to leave their communities to look for feed. That is the intention of this bill,” he noted.
Gamawa emphasized the wider economic benefits of siting a federal institution in Guma, stating that it would lead to increased accommodation needs, jo
b creation, improved commerce, and overall economic growth in the local government area.
“When you bring a federal institution to a community, everything multiplies—food supply, accommodation, services,” he said. “It transforms the economy and improves the lives of the people.”
He added that the bill’s objective is not only to support the host community but also to boost national livestock production and promote peace across Nig
eria.
Gamawa expressed hope that the bill would pass its third reading and receive presidential assent.
“My prayer is that this bill reaches the President and that he signs it so the institute can be established in Gama, Insha’Allah,” he said.
The proposed institute is expe
cted to support research, production, and distribution of grassland and fodder, strengthen pastoral systems, reduce conflict drivers, and contribute to long-term national food security.
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