Alh. Mohammadu Umar, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has revealed that the Federal Government has begin to establish “Ruga Settlements” for herdsmen in 12 pilot states nationwide.
He made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday on the sidelines of a workshop on Regional Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and associated legislation in West Africa.
According to him, the farm settlements when fully established would address the incessant clashes between Fulani cattle rearers and farmers..
Umar further explained that the pilot programme had already commenced on a 31,000-hectare in Kotongora, Niger state.
He said, " The required facilities for a basic life and treatment of cattle are being provided to enhance productivity. The government would replicate the programme in selected states as work “is ongoing in the 12 pilot states”.
"Six settlements will be established in each of the pilot states. The centres would be expanded and adequately equipped, and the government would do all that was necessary to enlighten the herdsmen on how the use of ranches could make make cattle rearing more profitable," the Permanent Secretary said.
He further explained that various spots would be established for the pastoralists to be able to milk their cows, adding that 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 an initiative to stop the age-long herders-farmers crisis and to massively develop the livestock industry.
The initiative seeks to promote ranching as the way forward for cattle rearing in the country.
According to the permanent secretary, nomadic livestock production in Nigeria is facing major challenges and is at crossroads due to declining availability of pasture, overgrazing, and expanding fatal conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers.
He said that 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,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Benue State government has rejected moves by the federal government to establish settlements for Fulani herdsmen to be called “Ruga Settlements” in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom made his government’s position known in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
Ortom said it has become necessary to make the position of the government and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal Government across the states including Benue.
According to the statement, “A few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the State; Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum LGAs., Benue State government has rejected moves by the federal government to establish settlements for Fulani herdsmen to be called “Ruga Settlements” in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom made his government’s position known in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
Ortom said it has become necessary to make the position of the government and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal Government across the states including Benue.
According to the statement, “A few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the State; Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum LGAs.
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