By Abdullahi Muhammad and Donald Iorchir
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has constituted a high-powered technical committee to manage and curtail the menace of cattle grazing and rustling in the Federal Capital Territory.
The committee which consisted of 22 members was inaugurated on Monday in his office.
He directed the Committee to build on the works of similar committees set up by previous administrations to jump-start its activities for immediate impact.
Bello said the terms of reference of the Committee included discussing with the various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to “see what plans are already on ground within the FCT Administration for the proper use of grazing reserves and to cater for farming communities as well as the needs of other stakeholders.”
He said: “In a way, you will notice that what your committee is doing is being done by similar committees all over the country and particularly a national committee under the Inspector General of Police. So, I will expect that you would reach out to some of these Committees, especially those within the North-central geo-political zone or even the office of the Inspector-General of Police to be able to leverage on some of their works and some of the information available to them.
“At the end of the day, we want to have a Territory that is very peaceful, that is vibrant economically and is a melting pot where everybody comes in and relates freely with the other party.”
According to him, it is the decision of the FCT Administration as a responsible government to designate grazing reserves for who rear cattle in the FCT to prevent them from wandering into the city centre and obstructing traffic flow.
He added that the Committee would need to liaise very closely with the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, who is the chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs, because at the end of the day, whatever recommendations you give us, the implementation has to be through the Council of Traditional Chiefs.
Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Uthman Mohammed, who responded on behalf of the members, appreciated the confidence and trust the Administration had reposed in them.
He said cattle grazing and rustling were not peculiar to the FCT alone, but if not well managed could get out of hand.
He further promised to take the assignment very seriously and work assiduously to achieve the set target.
The 22-member Committee comprised of Engr. Uthman Mohammed as chairman and the Acting Secretary of the FCT Area Council Secretariat, Hajiya Amina Abubakar as secretary.
Other members were the FCT Police Commissioner, FCT Director of DSS, Commandant, Brigade of Guards, FCT NSCDC Commandant, Chairmen of the Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Kuje and Gwagwalada area councils as well as the Ardo of Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal.
Others also were the chairmen of Miyetti-Allah and Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore, FCT Chapter, respectively, Ag. Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council; Acting Secretaries of FCT Area Council Services and Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariats, respectively, Dr. Aminu Sa’ad, FCT Directors of Security as well as Information & Communications.
