Grazing Area settlements for herdsmen across the nation.
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State revealed this at the presidential
villa in Abuja on Wednesday after a meeting with Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo.
The governor said the reason the planned Ruga was suspended because it
was not consistent with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
He noted that the NLTP approved by the National Economic Council and the
Federal Government is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who
like to participate.
“It is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, will key
into the programme. Any state that is interested in this programme is
required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the
implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his
state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis.
That’s the decision of this committee.”
The Ruga initiative drew the ire and condemnation of some state
governors who insisted there is no land for ranches and cattle colonies
in their state.
The Federal Government before the suspension planned the settlements in
order to curb open grazing of animals that continue to pose security
threats to farmers and herders.
The Presidency on Sunday clarified that the Ruga settlements seek to
settle animal farmers, not just cattle herders, in an “organised place
with provision of necessary and adequate basic amenities such as
schools, hospitals, road networks, vet clinics, markets and
manufacturing entities that will process and add value to meats and
animal products”.
The Benue State Government had said that it will not be part of the
project, rejecting the “attempt to impose the Ruga settlement projects
on them without the consent and approval of the governor who controls
and administers the land in the state in trust for the people”.
“We wish to make it clear that no land in Benue State has been gazetted
for grazing routes, grazing reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga
settlements, contrary to the Presidency’s claim,” Terver Akase, the
spokesman of Governor Samuel Ortom said in a statement.
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