Ranching: FG Should Allocate N6.25bn To Other States Also

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has said that the
Federal Government should give a special allocation of N6.25bn to
other states in the country as it was given to Katsina State for
the establishment of ranching in the state.

Falana, who is the Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19
and Beyond (ASCAB) said the reciprocal gesture is expressly stated
in the Constitution that the people of Nigeria shall have equality
of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.

The legal luminary, who made this known in a statement issued to
newsmen in Lagos, recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari approved
the sum of N6. 25 billion for the immediate establishment of
ranching in Katsina state in a statement by his media aide and also
being confirmed by the Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina
State.

He explained that President Buhari has adopted ranching to
replace open grazing in line with the National Livestock
Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

“Since what is good for the goose is good for the gander we call
on the President to approve the allocation of the same sum of N6.25
billion for every other State Government for ranch development
purposes.

“This demand is in consonance section 17 (1) of the Constitution
which stipulates that the people of Nigeria shall have equality of
rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.

“The implication of the special allocation of the sum of N6.25
billion to the Katsina State Government is that President Buhari
has adopted ranching to replace open grazing in line with the
National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal
Government.

“On July 16, 2021, it was disclosed that President Muhammadu
Buhari had approved the sum of N6. 25 billion for the immediate
establishment of ranching in Katsina state.

“The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja. In confirming the disclosure Governor
Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State said that “Mr President has
graciously approved the sum of N6.25 billion for ranch development
purposes in Katsina State.

“Part out of this amount, N5 billion, is already in the account
of the state government and within few weeks you will see
advertisements calling for interested companies and consultants
that will participate in construction,” Falana stated.

The Human Rights Activist, therefore, urged the Federal
Government to jettison the planned implementation of grazing
reserves in 25 States since the Northern Governors Forum and the
Southern Governors Forum have rejected open grazing and adopted the
National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal
Government.

The Group noted that in the each State of the Federation the
Governor is exclusively vested in the pursuant to the provisions of
the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,
2004.

He added that the Federal Government has no business reviving
“grazing reserves.”

“However, since the Northern Governors Forum and the Southern
Governors Forum have rejected open grazing and adopted the National
Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government including
ranching the Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond is compelled
to urge President Buhari to jettison the planned implementation of
grazing reserves in 25 States.

“It is time the attention of the Federal Government was drawn to
the position of the law to the effect that while the land in the
Federal Capital Territory is vested in the President the land in
the each State of the Federation is exclusively vested in the
Governor pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“The fact of the matter is that the federal government has no
business reviving “grazing reserves” on its own as it doesn’t
control land use.

“Instead of chasing the shadows of grazing reserves, the federal
government should support the state governments to develop ranches
on its own as it has done in Katsina.

“There should be a proper articulation and implementation of
ranching as a solution to the problems arising from the obsolete
agricultural practice of open grazing.” He said.