The federal government said Tuesday it had commenced establishment of Ruga (farm) settlements for herdsmen in 12 pilot states nationwide.
Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohammadu Umar stated this in an interview on the sidelines of a workshop on regional antimicrobial resistance and associated legislation in West Africa, in Abuja.
He said when fully established, the farm settlements would address the incessant clashes between the Fulani herders and farmers.
Umar said the pilot programme had commenced on a 31,000-hectare in Kontagora, Niger state.
He said the required facilities for a basic life and treatment of cattle were being provided to enhance productivity.
Umar further stated that government would replicate the programme in selected states as work “is ongoing in the 12 pilot states.”
He said six settlements would be established in each of the pilot states.
Umar, who also said the centres would be expanded and adequately equipped, assured beneficiaries government would do all that was necessary to enlighten the herdsmen on how the use of ranches could make cattle rearing more profitable.
He said government would sensitise the herdsmen to the social and political benefits derivable from such settlements.
The permanent secretary explained that various spots would be established for the pastoralists to be able to milk their cows.
He also said dispensaries would be established to prevent the misuse of antibiotics.
The Ruga settlement idea was an initiative of the National Economic Council (NEC) presented under the national livestock transformation plan (2018-2027).
It was designed to stop the age-long herders-farmers’ crisis and to massively develop the livestock industry.
The permanent secretary said “nomadic livestock production in Nigeria is facing major challenges and it is at crossroads due to declining availability of pasture, overgrazing, and expanding fatal conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers.
He said the impact on food and nutrition security as well as “public safety and national security are huge and far-reaching, therefore government is bent on making the plan to work as it has commenced.
“Under the new plan, cattle herders are expected to be registered and recognised with cooperatives for the purpose of the ranching scheme.
“These cooperatives will then be able to get rental agreements for land from state governments and also benefit from ranch resources on several terms including loans, grants, and subsidies.’’
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Country Representative, Mr. Suffyan Koroma said the workshop was organised to prepare the organisation’s representatives and respective countries and regions to work out ways to tackle the impending dangers of AMR and AMU.
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Benue kicks
But the Benue state government has insisted it would not accept the federal government’s initiative.
It said the people believed such settlements would amount to disrespect and regard for the law of the land and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The government made its position known Tuesday in a statement by the Chief press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Terver Akase, and made available to Blueprint in Makurdi.
Akase said, a few weeks ago, a director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and his team came to the state to inform officials of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture he had received directives from Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the state.
The director, the CPS said, listed the local government areas selected for the initiative to include Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum.
The statement quoted the permanent secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture as drawing the federal government’s attention to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented in the state.
It further said when the team was also reminded of the Land Use Act which confers on the governor the powers to administer lands in all parts of the state, the visiting officials left with a promise to relay the message to their headquarters.
The government, however, said it was surprising that the officials returned a few days later with contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements.
“We find the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture not only as a gross violation of the ranching law but also as an insult to the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue state.
“It could be recalled that the people and government of Benue state rejected cattle colonies and still reject the policy in whichever robes it is disguised.
“We wish to remind those pushing for Ruga settlements that the constitution of the country gives states the right to make laws for the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert such right is a direct attack on the constitution. Those behind such a move are enemies of peace and progress.
“The government of Benue state is willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting open grazing.
“We, however, wish to reiterate that Benue state has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or Ruga settlements. The state only has land for the establishment of ranches,” the statement further said.
