Kano Emir Advocates Maintenance Of Grazing Reserves

A committee constituted by Muhammad Musa Bello, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to end the frequent clashes between farmers and pastoral farmers in Abuja visited the four designated grazing reserves in the FCT.

Nigeria's federal, state and local governments have been urged to make budgetary provision for the maintenance of grazing reserves and stock routes in order to eliminate farmers-herders clashes and ensure peace.

Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, made this call at the national summit on Conflict Resolution Organised by The Nation and Television Continental (TVC).

Sanui who was represented by Professor Isa Hashim, the Jarman Kano, said: “The three levels of government should provide enough funds through our budgets for the maintenance of our stock. Because this is what will help us to have an enduring peace in our country. The entire nation needs peace,” he said.

Also, Professor Daniel Gwary, a senior lecturer with the University of Maiduguri, called on the federal government to establish grazing reserves nationwide in order to end the recurrent clashes between farmers and herders.

“We cannot stop livestock grazing with the way things are going because we need to put something in place before asking anybody to stop the open grazing.

“So we need to establish grazing reserves in consenting states to improve national production and management in order to minimise factors that are causing friction between herders and farmers.

“But when conflict happens, no body actually designs one, therefore, it is necessary that governments and all stakeholders should help in establishing or strengthening conflict mediation, resolution and reconciliation or peace building mechanism.

“These mechanisms have been there; we only need to strengthen them.’’ 

Stanley Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe, the secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), conversing with journalists, revealed that the committee has visited the reserves and has taken stock of farmers and pastorialists in view of compensating them for their land.