Fulani herdsmen under the
umbrella of Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) have
lambasted the federal government’s moves to explore petroleum resources in
parts of northern Nigeria.
The herdsmen said instead of
wasting resources in that regard, the central government should develop the
livestock sector of the region for its numerous economic benefits which can
turn around the country’s economic fortune.
National President of the
association, Khalil Mohammed Bello, on behalf of the herdsmen, in a statement
issued on Monday in Damaturu, said that Northern Nigeria can do better as it
did during colonial era and in the First Republic without petroleum but with
livestock farming.
“One cannot compare renewable
resources with natural deposits such as petroleum resources, which can be
replaced with several alternative sources of energy such as biofuel,
electricity, solar etc to motorise our engines.
“We are all aware that, no matter
how abundant country’s petroleum resources is one day the resources will be
exhausted or replaced by another source of energy more especially as the entire
World now is crying of climate change and air pollution, mainly caused by heavy
duty industries that are using petroleum resources for their daily operations.
“And even if petroleum resources
are not replaced with other sources of energy, it will one day finish, and that
is why whenever new petroleum well or wells are discovered, geologists or
experts in the petroleum explorations usually state, when that petroleum is expected
to be exhausted,” Bello disclosed.
The KACRAN national President
added that due to the uncertainties associated with petroleum resources
countries such as Saudi Arabia, one of the richest oil countries of the world,
is currently working seriously towards diversification of its economy in order
to stop being dependant on the petroleum resources.
“At this juncture, we want to
reiterate what we have earlier said that by making this comparison or analysis
we are not discouraging government or petroleum Companies from making oil
exploration in the Northern part of our country, we are only stating facts as
well as saying that let oil exploration be given third position in the North,
after livestock and arable farming.
“We said so for the fact that, we
know if to say part of the billions Naira expended for oil exploration in the
North, is been spent judiciously for the development of agriculture, reclaiming
our land encroached by desertification through massive three planting and
production of posture and water points for both livestock and arable farming
will develop to the extent that Northern Nigeria can feed the entire African
States,” the KACRAN President asserted.
He, however, debunked rumours
that KACRAN is against federal government’s ongoing effort as regards to
petroleum exploration in the northern part of Nigeria, saying the Association
is in support to the full explorations of minerals and natural resources for
the betterment of all Nigerians.
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