South East Governors Reach Agreement With Herdsmen Over Ruga Settlement

  • Governors propose trade by barter with MACBAN.
  • Says South East has no land for Ruga settlement.

Following the Federal Government’s proposal for the establishment of Ruga settlements in some states, South East Governors have reached an agreement with Miyetti Allah.

The Governors struck the proposed deal was struck with members of the Miyetti Allah as a panacea to achieving lasting peace among farmers and herdsmen.

David Umahi, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State said there was no plan for any Ruga settlement in any part of South East and South South, rather, the zones can make a very good business with the sale of grasses to the herdsmen in exchange for meat.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, the governor noted that there would be no part of the South East that will be given out for the establishment of Ruga.

READ: Omokri, Benue Gov’t, Others Reject Ruga Farm Settlement Introduced by FG

According to him, the zone is purely agrarian with limited landmass for farming and therefore cannot accommodate Ruga.

Umahi furthers said the zone actually proposed a deal with Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to take their cattle to the Northern parts where the grazing reserve was established long time ago and rely completely on the grasses grown in the South for feeding of their cattle.

Umahi who was appointed Chairman Technical Committee on Farmers and Herdsmen clash carved from the Federal Economic Council under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo had made a recommendation for revamping of the already existing grazing reserve in various parts of the North to enable farmers to have unhindered access to their farmlands while herdsmen rely solely on proceeds from the farmers.

He explained that what was agreed is that the herdsmen will bring down their cows to the South East and sell as meat while they will load the grasses which are grown here in the same trailer with which they transported their cows to feed their cattle in those grazing reserve which should be made comfortable for them.

READ: Ekiti PDP to Fayemi: RUGA: Don’t Trade Our Properties for Political Gain

According to Umahi, with this proposed deal, herdsmen are expected to embrace anti-open grazing by returning to the ranches in the north and do their business on the trade-by-barter basis of selling cows to the south and buying grass to feed their cows in the north.

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