Miyetti Allah: North Can’t Ignore South’s Decision On Open Grazing

*Tells Northern Govs To Revive 400 Inactive Grazing
Reserves

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) says the North cannot afford to ignore the recent
unanimous decision of southern governors to place a ban on open
grazing in their states.

Responding to the Tuesday Asaba Declaration of the governors,
National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said northern
governors should rise up to the challenge by working out a solution
of their own that will be generally acceptable.

“We can’t ignore the unanimous demand of the entire governments
of the south on a particular issue,” Ngelzarma told The Nation
yesterday.

“If the southern governors can be in agreement on an aspect,
that means it is an issue and deserves to be given serious
attention,” he added.

“In a situation where the entire southern populace is synonymous
with a particular aspect, I think this aspect deserves to be given
attention.

“But the northern governors need to speak with their southern
counterparts so that they can come up with a solution that is
generally acceptable.”

He said the northern governors should also consider reactivating
the over 400 inactive grazing reserves in the north and make them
attractive for pastoralists to settle.

He added that the grazing reserves, if reactivated, with the
provision of schools, veterinary clinics, hospital services among
others, it would give the pastoralists an opportunity to be
educated and also stop them from roaming.

His words: “Ranching is a long term issue. Since we have these
grazing reserves lying idle, why can’t we reactivate them?

“We as an association believe settlements for the pastoralists
will be the only solution that will solve the farmers/herders
conflicts in the country.”

The Nation gathered that Nigeria has 415 grazing reserves, but
only one third of them are in use.

The Association said the grazing reserves which cover an area of
5 million hectares in the north should be reactivated in the
interim before considering ranching which may take a long time and
process to complete.

Ngelzarma urged the federal government to design a policy to
tackle the problem of farmers/herders conflicts.

He said: “The time of roaming about looking for pasture is
almost over, considering the growth in population of the country,
challenges of land and climate change. This calls for an effective
planning on the part of the federal government.

“Why can’t the northern governors begin to make these areas
attractive to the pastoralists? Why can’t they reactivate and make
the grazing reserves functional?

“The moment they provide water and pastures in the grazing
reserves, this will attract the pastoralists in the south to
relocate back to the north.

“It is only when you give them a place to stay that’s when you
will have the opportunity to give them education and also provide
them with veterinary clinics, hospital services among others, which
will stop them from roaming about.

He urged the National Assembly to come up with a legislation
that will put an end to the issue.

The governors of the 17 southern states had, in a communiqué at
the end of the Asaba meeting, said the incursion of armed herders,
criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country has
presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not
able to live their normal lives.

They resolved “that open grazing of cattle be banned across
Southern Nigeria, noting that development and population growth has
put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of
conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the
South.

“Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban
on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the
South by foot).”

Farmers/herders conflicts have claimed many lives across the
country.

*Tells Northern Govs To Revive 400 Inactive Grazing
Reserves

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) says the North cannot afford to ignore the recent
unanimous decision of southern governors to place a ban on open
grazing in their states.

Responding to the Tuesday Asaba Declaration of the governors,
National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said northern
governors should rise up to the challenge by working out a solution
of their own that will be generally acceptable.

“We can’t ignore the unanimous demand of the entire governments
of the south on a particular issue,” Ngelzarma told The Nation
yesterday.

“If the southern governors can be in agreement on an aspect,
that means it is an issue and deserves to be given serious
attention,” he added.

“In a situation where the entire southern populace is synonymous
with a particular aspect, I think this aspect deserves to be given
attention.

“But the northern governors need to speak with their southern
counterparts so that they can come up with a solution that is
generally acceptable.”

He said the northern governors should also consider reactivating
the over 400 inactive grazing reserves in the north and make them
attractive for pastoralists to settle.

He added that the grazing reserves, if reactivated, with the
provision of schools, veterinary clinics, hospital services among
others, it would give the pastoralists an opportunity to be
educated and also stop them from roaming.

His words: “Ranching is a long term issue. Since we have these
grazing reserves lying idle, why can’t we reactivate them?

“We as an association believe settlements for the pastoralists
will be the only solution that will solve the farmers/herders
conflicts in the country.”

The Nation gathered that Nigeria has 415 grazing reserves, but
only one third of them are in use.

The Association said the grazing reserves which cover an area of
5 million hectares in the north should be reactivated in the
interim before considering ranching which may take a long time and
process to complete.

Ngelzarma urged the federal government to design a policy to
tackle the problem of farmers/herders conflicts.

He said: “The time of roaming about looking for pasture is
almost over, considering the growth in population of the country,
challenges of land and climate change. This calls for an effective
planning on the part of the federal government.

“Why can’t the northern governors begin to make these areas
attractive to the pastoralists? Why can’t they reactivate and make
the grazing reserves functional?

“The moment they provide water and pastures in the grazing
reserves, this will attract the pastoralists in the south to
relocate back to the north.

“It is only when you give them a place to stay that’s when you
will have the opportunity to give them education and also provide
them with veterinary clinics, hospital services among others, which
will stop them from roaming about.

He urged the National Assembly to come up with a legislation
that will put an end to the issue.

The governors of the 17 southern states had, in a communiqué at
the end of the Asaba meeting, said the incursion of armed herders,
criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country has
presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not
able to live their normal lives.

They resolved “that open grazing of cattle be banned across
Southern Nigeria, noting that development and population growth has
put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of
conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the
South.

“Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban
on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the
South by foot).”

Farmers/herders conflicts have claimed many lives across the
country.