Herdsmen: No Land For Grazing Reserves In Benue — Ortom Replies Presidency

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that the State
would not be part of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme
of the Federal Government.

Ortom said his state has no land for grazing routes, grazing
reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements.

The governor was reacting to the statement by Garba Shehu,
Buhari’s spokesman who had said the Federal Government would as
from next month commence rehabilitation work on grazing reserves in
the country.

In a statement by his spokesman, Terver Akase, the governor
warned that such initiative would have negative effect on the unity
of Nigeria.

According to Ortom: “While we may not stop the Federal
Government’s plan to rehabilitate grazing reserves or create cattle
routes in other states, we wish to make it clear that no land in
Benue State has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves,
cattle colonies and Ruga settlements. Benue is therefore not part
of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme of the Federal
Government.

“We expect the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to weigh the
negative consequences its recommendation will have on the unity and
security of the nation and advise Mr President that Nigerians are
not on the same page with him regarding the matter of open grazing.
It is not too late to salvage the situation.

“We are concerned about the plight of millions of farmers who
have been displaced as a result of herders’ attacks and are now in
IDP camps; a development which is already adversely affecting food
production. Benue State has over one million displaced people who
are mostly farmers, and the task of returning them to their
ancestral homes is what should bother the Ministry of Agriculture
and other agencies of the Federal Government.”

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that the State
would not be part of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme
of the Federal Government.

Ortom said his state has no land for grazing routes, grazing
reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements.

The governor was reacting to the statement by Garba Shehu,
Buhari’s spokesman who had said the Federal Government would as
from next month commence rehabilitation work on grazing reserves in
the country.

In a statement by his spokesman, Terver Akase, the governor
warned that such initiative would have negative effect on the unity
of Nigeria.

According to Ortom: “While we may not stop the Federal
Government’s plan to rehabilitate grazing reserves or create cattle
routes in other states, we wish to make it clear that no land in
Benue State has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves,
cattle colonies and Ruga settlements. Benue is therefore not part
of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme of the Federal
Government.

“We expect the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to weigh the
negative consequences its recommendation will have on the unity and
security of the nation and advise Mr President that Nigerians are
not on the same page with him regarding the matter of open grazing.
It is not too late to salvage the situation.

“We are concerned about the plight of millions of farmers who
have been displaced as a result of herders’ attacks and are now in
IDP camps; a development which is already adversely affecting food
production. Benue State has over one million displaced people who
are mostly farmers, and the task of returning them to their
ancestral homes is what should bother the Ministry of Agriculture
and other agencies of the Federal Government.”