Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Benue State government has rejected the planned Ruga settlement for herdsmen by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in the state.
Governor Ortom who stated this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, reiterated his stance that the state has no land for open grazing of cattle, adding that ranching is the only lasting solution to the incessant herders and farmers crisis which the country ought to embrace.
“It has become necessary to make the position of the government and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal government across the states including Benue.
Akase in the statement made available to our correspondent disclosed that a few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the state.
He said the director at the meeting had revealed that three local government areas of Ukum, Tarka, and Otukpo have been selected for the Ruga settlements in the state.
“The Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Agriculture drew the attention of the director and his team to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented in the state.
“When they were also reminded about the Land Use Act which confers on the governor the powers to administer lands in all parts of the state, officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture left with a promise to relay the message to their headquarters. They surprisingly returned a few days later with contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements.
“We find the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture not only as a gross violation of the Ranching law but also as an insult to the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue State.”
Akase recalled that the people and government of Benue State had at several fora rejected cattle colonies and still reject the policy in whichever robes it is disguised.
“Governor Samuel Ortom made the stand of Benue State known during the unveiling of the Livestock Development Programme in Abuja last year. He stressed that the state would embrace the policy only if it supports implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
“The governor also insisted that Benue State has no land for open grazing of cattle and he restated ranching as a lasting solution to the incessant herders and farmers crisis which the country ought to embrace.
“Governor Ortom made similar presentations at different fora to buttress why open grazing of livestock is not feasible in a densely-populated country with over 200 million people.”
He stated further that during the National Council on Agriculture summit which took place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement patterns on the states but the Benue State delegation seized the opportunity to remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has phased out open grazing.
“No one at the summit put forth an alternative method of animal husbandry to counter the state’s presentation.”
While recalling that the National Economic Council, (NEC), had also unanimously adopted ranching as the best method of livestock breeding for the country, Akase stated that, “it is therefore shocking to see the Federal government turning round to establish Fulani herdsmen settlements in some states including Benue, contrary to the position of NEC.
“We wish to remind those pushing for Ruga settlements that the constitution of the country gives states the right to make laws for the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert such right is a direct attack on the constitution. Those behind such a move are enemies of peace and progress.”
The CPS maintained that while the government of Benue State is willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting open grazing, the state has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or Ruga settlements but has land only for the establishment of ranches.