Confusion seems to be trailing Federal Government planning to dump ranches and set up colonies with facilities for herdsmen to rear their cattle in states of the federation.
Before now, Federal Government had contemplated establishing ranches in different states of the federation to ease growing tension between the herdsmen and the farmers.
It was rumoured that the government had sent a bill to the National Assembly for deliberation and passage into law, an action the government vehemently denied.
Government’s inertia in finding lasting solution to the herdsmen/farmers’ clashes have led to the death of scores of farmers and other defenceless Nigerians by gun-weilding herdsmen.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated government’s intention Monday to set up the colonies at a special security meeting with five governors and security chiefs, convened by the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau.
Ogbeh revealed that government is “planning a programme called cattle colonies not ranches but colonies where, at least, 5,000 hectares of land, adequate water, adequate pasture would be made available.
“We also want to stop cattle rearers from roaming about. The culture of cattle roaming about will be stopped. The cattle will be provided with water and adequate security by the rangers, adequate pasture milk collection even security for rustlers to enable them live a normal life. This has been done elsewhere in India, Ethopia and even Brazil.
“Over the years, we have not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the country. People ask the question why government should get involved; why shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock?” he said.
State governors at the meeting were those of Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau, which also had in attendance the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Director-General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), among others.
In his keynote address, Dambazau, the chief convener, said the meeting was to primarily share experiences among the stakeholders and agree on the necessary measures to be taken against the menace.
“It is against this background that the meeting is convened primarily to bring us together, to share our experiences on security challenges.
“The meeting will then agree on the necessary measures to be taken and apportion responsibilities. We are all aware of the noble objectives, policy initiatives and huge investments of the states and federal government with regards to numerous development projects being embarked upon, notable among which is in the agricultural sector.
“It is quite unfortunate that we find ourselves confronted by communal conflicts and criminal acts resulting in bloodshed and destruction of food crops, livestocks, agricultural investments, and exposing rural communities to untold hardship,” the minister said.
He noted that the current situation is very dangerous in the northern parts of the country in particular and in the nation in general.
He listed the immediate repercussions of the menace to include hunger, arising from acute shortage of food, diseases and deepening of animosity between ethnic and religious groups.
“Bearing in mind that general elections are approaching and considering the history of political and election violence in Nigeria, all necessary steps must be taken to ensure the recently witnessed violence is curtailed.
“We must also not allow people, who are bent on sustaining instability for their political interests, to politicise matters of security,” Dambazau added.
Source: Sun
