Against the backdrop of oppositions and threats by some Nigerians, groups and socio-cultural organisations rejecting the establishment of controversial RUGA settlement in approved 12 states of the country, the Federal government, Wednesday, suspended the project.
The suspension of the Ruga settlement was announced at the end a meeting presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Deputy Governor of Adamawa state and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Umahi said the National Livestock Transformation programme was voluntary for any willing state in the country.
“We the National Economic Council (NEC) committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Vice President met today to deliberate on the approved programme of NEC and Federal Government, tagged, “the National Livestock Transformation Programme.”
“We are aware that today Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented by the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan which has programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the Federation.
The word is ‘willing’ state of the federation,” he said. He further said, “The National Livestock Transformation plan, its beauty is that what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme.”
“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis. That’s the decision of this committee.”
Speaking with journalists too, Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, confirmed that the project has been suspended because it was not in consistent with the approved National Livestock Transformation plan.
