Emerging report indicates that the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, on Tuesday, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government to provide funding for the establishment of Ranches across the region, to curb the Fulani herdsmen and Farmers crisis across the country, as well as other criminal activities perpetrated by the Herders.
The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘News @ 10’ said that the Governors have been in support of ranching for quite some time, but have not received the necessary support from the Presidency.
His words: “We were advising the Federal Government to also give grants to States that are ready with land.
“We are not saying that it is compulsory for States that are not ready. But many States in the North are ready.
“We need some grants to start, so that these people will not be moving here and there. We need to also keep them in one place. It is business. So definitely, that is the only way to control the insecurity.”
He added that all Stakeholders, including members of the Cattle Herders Associations across the country, are on board with the idea of ranching.
He added: “But there is this lack of funds to the State, there is lack of encouragement to the State.”
Governor Lalong noted, for example, that the Plateau State Government has readied 74,000 hectares for the ranching exercise, but needs funding to develop the project.
“When you start restricting people, you must provide alternatives”, he noted.
More news later…