Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says if the federal
government provides N140 billion as support funding, the grazing reserves in
the state will be converted to ranches.
El-Rufai’s comments come amid efforts to address
farmer-herder clashes across the country — some states in the southern region
have banned open grazing.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the national
secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, el-Rufai said the
ban might not be a solution to the problem.
He disclosed that northern governors had already taken a
position on ranching, but said it would cost a lot to implement.
According to him, there are 14 grazing reserves in Kaduna,
and it would cost over N100 billion to convert them to ranches.
“We have taken a position as northern state governors and we
are implementing that. And in my state, for instance, we are developing a huge
ranch to centralise the herders. And that is the solution, a long-term
solution. But can it be done overnight?” he queried.
“This project we are doing will cost us about N10 billion.
The CBN is supporting us with about N7.5 billion. And it will take about two
years to do. We will be settling Fulani herdsmen and their families.
“I hope that they will see that there are alternative ways
of producing livestock, instead of running up and down with cattle, going to
people’s farms to cause all kinds of problems. We want to solve the problem.
“What is unhelpful is to politicise the situation and pass
legislation that you know that you cannot implement. So, we have taken a
position and we are working round the clock to implement that position.
“These herders emanate from the north and we are going to
centralise them. We cannot do it overnight. We need billions of naira. This is
just one ranch that is costing N10 billion. I have 14 grazing reserves in
Kaduna state and I will like to convert them into ranching. Do I have 14 times
N10 billion? I don’t have.
“If the federal government will give me N140 billion, I will
convert the other thirteen into ranches and make sure that nobody comes out
with a cow or sheep in Kaduna state, because I will have enough ranches to take
care of everybody.
“That is the solution. You can legislate, but let us wait
and see. And I wish them the best of luck.”
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