Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja

Federal Government has said the decision to set up ranch in some parts of the country is not a new policy.

Minister of Interior, Gen. Dambazzau, who made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of World Congress of IPI in Abuja, said it was wrong for people to suggest that the policy was a brainchild of the incumbent administration .

According to him, the Buhari government had to revive the policy to help address the current insecurity precipitated by farmers, herders’ clashes.

Admitting that Nigeria is facing a porous border, Dambazzau said the situation for many years had combined with other factors to aid insecurity in the country.

However, he explained that the situation was being tackled by the government with assistance from foreign partners. Dambazzau said the government, apart from equipping immigration staff, has initiated what he called e-border system which he explained focuses on biometric registration of migrants.

He said the process of getting all the biometrics of all migrants residing in the country is ongoing.
He said though ECOWAS protocol on free movement has resulted in nationals of other countries coming into the country on daily basis and the security of Nigeria being threatened, the country will continue to be bound by the protocol because of the number of Nigerians in other countries.

Dambazzau who regretted that the security of the country has been challenged by the gap left by the poor shape of the police, said the military has tried to fill the gap but for the insurgency war it has been combating.

He identified good governance as one of the ways of addressing the situation.

His explanation came as Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed urged farmers and herders to shift ground and embrace peace even as he charged them to take advantage of technology in doing their businesses.

While noting that government was committed to addressing issues bordering on insecurity, he attributed the movement of cattle from one place to another to climate change.

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun said government has invested enormously on security, infrastructure and in key areas that would f ast-tract development.