SAN FRANCISCO, April 27, (THEWILL) – The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the adoption of ranching in some of the states affected by farmers/herdsmen clashes as a sustainable solution to the conflicts.
Chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, NEC noted that ranching would enhance the production of healthy cattle in the country.
It also added that the movement of herdsmen has to stop in the five states that have been adversely affected by killings attributed to the herdsmen-farmers conflict.
The states, according to the council, are Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara states.
While presenting an interim report at this month’s NEC meeting, the committee also debunked earlier reports that it pronounced a ban on the movement of herdsmen.
Following its visit to five out of seven of the affected states, including Zamfara, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue, NEC noted that a root cause of the conflict was the struggle for scarce land and resources.
It identified the need to transform the livestock industry into a model for cattle production as one of the remedies for constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi who spoke to journalists after the meeting called for the deployment of more security operatives in Benue state, disclosing that most of the killings in the area are carried out by herdsmen from outside the country.
“This movement by the nomadic herdsmen has to stop,” Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi who headed the sub-committee on the farmers/herders’ crisis told State House correspondents after the NEC meeting on Thursday.
“Beyond seeking a ban on grazing, the council approved ranching across the affected states, which are expected to make land available for ranches.
“In all, we agreed that the most profitable and modern way of rearing this cattle is by ranching.
“And so we’ve agreed that the five states that are involved are going to give land. Niger has also given land – though it is outside the five states, Kaduna has also given land.
“Plateau is giving land and ranching is already in practice in Mambilla in Taraba State and they have success stories with regard to that.”
