Nigeria Moves To Establish Cattle Colonies

Herdsmen roaming with cattle

Rights Group Seeks National Assembly Intervention

The Federal Government is to establish cattle colonies to mitigate the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen nationwide.

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture 

The Guardian Nigeria report continues:

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this yesterday at a security meeting convoked by the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd). It had in attendance the governors of Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kaduna and Benue states.

Also at the parley were the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, commissioners of police, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana. The minister noted that the strategy would boost the confidence of farmers to work in their farms without an iota of fear, adding that government had been up and doing in finding a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.

Ogbeh said the move was to end the culture of herdsmen moving about with their cattle. His words: “We are planning a programme called cattle colonies, not ranches, where at least 5,000 hectares of land would be made available, adequate water and pasture would also be made available. We also want to stop cattle rearers from roaming around. The culture of cattle moving about will be stopped as they will be provided with water and adequate security by the rangers, as well as adequate pasture milk collection even security for rustlers to enable them live a normal life. This has been done elsewhere in India, Ethiopia and even Brazil.”

However, the Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA) has sought the swift intervention of the National Assembly.

In a press statement by its chairman, Dr. John Danfulani, the organization said the appeal has become expedient, as the country sits on the precipice. It frowned at the poor handling of the issue at hand, alleging that the current administration adopts double standard to issues.

Farmers/Herdsmen Clashes: Nigeria To Establish Cattle Colonies

Media reports that the federal government says it will soon commence the establishment of cattle colonies in the states to check increasing cases of farmers-herdsmen clashes in the country.

Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at a Strategy Retreat for Civil Servants and Political Appointees of the ministry in Abuja on Monday.

Mr. Ogbeh, while stating the target of his ministry for 2018, said the ministry would also engage in massive cattle breed improvement through artificial insemination.

“We want to handle the issue of cattle rearing and crisis between farmers and herdsmen and actually bring it to a halt.

“I know that some people argued that open grazing is our culture, once a culture begins to develop very dangerous trends, leading to warfare between people, bloody clashes and death, that culture is due for re-examination.

“A culture must not be left because it is a culture, if it is harmful, we reform it. We are talking of cattle colonies, not ranches. We are talking of massive cattle breed improvement through artificial insemination, we have to start immediately.

“Sixteen states have given us land to work on, the programme is not going to be cheap but Mr President has personally informed me that if we seek help from him, he will give it to us over and above the budget we have.

“In our interactions with the herdsmen, they always say that if we have water and grass, we will not move anywhere, grass is not grass,’’ he said.

Earlier, Winifred Ochinyabo, Senior Adviser to the minister on Special Projects and General Duties said the cattle colonies would have social amenities such as good roads, a school for the nomads’ children and health facilities.

She said that agro rangers (security personnel) would also be at the colonies to help guard the animals.

According to her, the national herbage has drastically been depleted. We don’t have enough edible grass for our cattle anymore.

“The pasture production will be encouraged in the colonies as feed for the cattle, and goats

“We will be encouraging the youths to grow grass,’’ she said.

The Country Director of Synergos, Adewale Ajadi called for synergy between the states and federal governments to ensure success in the sector.

Media reports that Synergos is an organization that promotes collaboration among government and farmers’ organizations to improve the lives of small holder farmers.

He commended the Green Alternative Document, adding that it was a practical exposition of where the country had to go and set the future in the sector.

“This has to be a fundamentally different year because it is a year where the issues of change will be critical.

“What we do this year is not just significant to where we go as a country but significant to the future of our children,’’ Mr. Ajadi said.

He appealed to civil servants and political appointees to work together in order to achieve the desired result in 2018.

The retreat was organized by the ministry in collaboration with Synergos.