Following the public outburst that greeted the planned establishment of the Fulani Ruga Settlement, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the project across the country, thereby returns to the drawing board to reintroduce the project in a more acceptable way.
A Presidency Source who informed media about the withdrawal of the project revealed that the Presidency could not bear the public and anticipated outcome of proposed mass action by some civil society groups in Abuja against the scheme, on Friday, 5th July, 2019.
The source disclosed that President Buhari suspended the idea pending further notice and after consultations with stakeholders.
Further revelations showed that the Federal Government has gone back to the drawing board for thorough review and well-accepted approach to resolve constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
While the FG is still considering the next line of action of the FUGA settlement Nigerian government, it has gone ahead to adopt the National Economic Council (NEC)’s National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).
David Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi announced the development on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the NEC Committee of Farmers/Herders Crisis Chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Governor Umahi, in reaction to the public outcry over the Ruga Settlement, said that the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) would be all-inclusive, adding that it was for states that were willing to key into the programme.
He said, “We, the NEC Committee on Farmers/Herders Crisis under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, met today to deliberate on the approved programme of the NEC and Federal Government tagged, NLTP.
“We are aware that the president has suspended the implementation of `Ruga’ Programme initiated and being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“This is because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government’s approved NLTP.
“NLTP has programmes of rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resulting from the crisis and also development of ranching in any willing state of the federation; the word is willing state of the federation.
“Its beauty is that what NEC and the Federal Government approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states which may like to participate.
“So, it is not compulsory; it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme,’’ he said.
The Governor said that any state interested in the programme was required to bring up a development plan that was keyed towards the implementation in line with the Federal Government’s own programme.
According to Umahi, each willing state is expected to come up with a plan unique to it based on the challenges that it has in respect of the farmers/herders crisis.
Present at the meeting were governors of Kebbi and Plateau States, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Secretary of the Technical Sub-Committee of Farmers/Herders Crisis
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