The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a
civil society coalition led by Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN),
has advised those encouraging herders to reject modern animal husbandry to
learn from countries that have adopted ranching.
On Tuesday, the southern governors had announced their
resolve to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region in
order to tackle insecurity and address clashes between farmers and herders.
But different reactions have trailed the announcement.
Usman Yusuf, former executive secretary of the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), had faulted the decision of the southern
governors, saying the governors must provide land for herders to graze their
cattle and that “giving a blanket ban is irresponsible”.
However, Falana noted that the Northern Governors Forum, as
well as the Nigeria Governors Forum had earlier resolved to ban open grazing,
but the ex-NHIS boss did not condemn their decisions.
He said such “divide-and-rule tactics” are designed to
further polarise the masses, adding that the decision of the governors to ban
open grazing is in line with section 1 of the land use act.
Falana explained that herders are free to acquire land for
cattle business, adding that any person who wishes to use land in any state is
required to apply for a certificate of occupancy issued by the governor.
“At the virtual meeting of the Northern Governors Forum held
on February 9, 2021, the members unanimously resolved to ban open grazing,”
Falana said.
“In response to the call of the Northern Governors Forum for
an urgent meeting, the Nigeria Governors Forum held a virtual meeting on the
11th February, 2021. At the meeting, the 36 state governors agreed by consensus
to end nomadic cattle rearing in the country in order to end the incessant
violent clashes between farmers and herders.
“At its own meeting held at Asaba, Delta State on May 11,
2021, the Southern Governors Forum
reiterated the decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum to ban open grazing in
the country.
“Curiously, Professor Usman Yusuf has condemned the decision
of the Southern Governors Forum on the ban. Even though he did not condemn the
decisions of the Northern Governors Forum and the Nigeria Governors Forum, Professor
Usman has argued that the decision of the Southern Governors Forum could not be
justified under the Land Use Act.
“Such divide-and-rule
tactics are designed to further polarise the masses of our people. In any case,
the decision of all the governors to ban open grazing is in line with section 1
of the Land Use Act which has vested the entire land in every state in the
governors on behalf of the people. Accordingly, any person or corporate body
that wishes to use land in any state is required to apply for a certificate of
occupancy issued by the governor.
“As I had repeatedly maintained, the worsening insecurity in
the country including the violent clashes between herders and farmers can only
be seriously addressed if policy makers are prepared to abandon primitive ideas
and embrace scientific solutions.
“Those who are encouraging herders to reject modern animal
husbandry are advised to learn from Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia that have
effectively adopted ranching to end clashes between herders and farmers.”
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