In the last few months, several clashes had occurred between cattle herdsmen and farmers. Many farm lands have been destroyed, houses razed down and lives lost as a result of these clashes.
The trend of clashes is very disturbing as it occurs on a regular basis in various parts of the country. The loss of lives, homesteads, crop farm lands and livestock can no longer be tolerated.
In order to put a stop to this unwholesome occurrence, the Federal Government on Monday approved the constitution of a committee to work out modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country.
Consequently, a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) made up of governors of the 36 states of the federation and some ministers has been set for Thursday, this week to give teeth to the proposed policy aimed at finding a lasting solution to the clashes that had led to the death of over 50 persons since the beginning of 2014.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, disclosed this at the Presidential Villa, after a meeting chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo, cited recent communal clashes between Fulani cattle grazers and farmers in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau States and other parts of the country. He noted to all present that government has resolved to address the issue head-on.
He also disclosed that the grazing reserves would help to check the smuggling of arms and ammunition across the Nigerian borders by foreigners who come into the country disguised as cattle herdsmen.
Dr Adesina further announced that the government had put in place short term measures including the creation of new functional grazing reserves, deployment of satellite imagery, remote sensing and GPS maps to track movement of animals across the country.
From our correspondent
