The Nigerian Senate has rejected fresh moves to create grazing routes for cattle herders in the country. The resolution was passed by the lawmakers, as they observed a minute silence in honour of those who were killed in Omala LGA of Kogi State. They also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide the survivors, now living in internally displaced persons’ camps, with relief materials to enable them to return to their ancestral homes.
The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration of a motion on the attack and killing of residents in the local government by herdsmen.
The motion was moved by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC – Kogi East). While considering the motion, the Senate rejected an additional prayer by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC – Borno North) which called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to create new grazing routes in the country as a panacea to solve farmer/herder clashes in the country.
Jibrin in his lead debate lamented an attack on his constituents in Omala local government by herders where he alleged that over 500 persons were killed and their houses razed by the invading herders.
Senator Tahir Monguno in his contribution had called for the creation of grazing routes to prevent cattle from straying onto farms and eating up crops, a situation which he said often brings about conflict between farmers and herders.
Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the government should provide for the sustainability of livestock business in the country which he said is worth N30 trillion annually. He added that herders who have lost their cattle to rustling should be assisted by the government to acquire livestock to keep them occupied and productive.
The former Senate president said if the Federal Government in the past bailed out banks, and gave grants to DisCos and GenCos to keep them in business, “there is nothing wrong for the Federal Government to provide subsidies for herders who have lost their cattle to rustlers.’
He continued, “This is a security issue as much as it is an economic issue. We should say it as it is because we are looking for solutions. “We must continue to protect the lives and property of our citizens, which is the essence of governance. “The livestock industry is worth over N30 trillion, we cannot ignore it. We must ensure that the federal government resuscitates the livelihoods of those (herders) who want to remain within the boundaries of the law.”
He, however, did not oppose the convocation of a summit on the problem. “I like the idea of conducting a national summit on livestock development. We have to be decisive in funding our security agencies,” Lawan said.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), had called for a national summit to proffer lasting solutions to farmers/herders clashes in the country. Senator Titus Zam said the only solution to the menace of farmer/herder clashes is to establish cattle ranches. Senator Musa Garba, however, said that even though ranching is the way to go, average herders in the country would not have the needed financial resources to feed and sustain their livestock without help from the federal government.
He said as a ranch owner, he spends nothing less than N80 million every month to feed and maintain his ranch worth N90 million and wondered how an average herder can afford such a huge sum. He lamented that out of the three military forward operation bases proposed for Kebbi state to curb banditry only one has been established. He wondered what the military is doing with its huge appropriation annually if state governments still need to provide funds for their operations.
According to him, the Governor of Kebbi State, Dauda Lawal, reliably informed him that he allegedly funds the security operations of the military deployed to the state with N500 million monthly.
Contributing to the debate on the motion, Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi West, said there should be a summit that would holistically address the conflict between farmers and herders.
“The issue of farmers and herdsmen has been recurring decimal in our nation,” he said. “About two weeks ago, a very industrious woman in a community in my senatorial district – they went into her place and kidnapped her. We had to pay a lot of money to rescue her. This is something we have to look at holistically. I suggest that we have a national summit on this.”
