Is Nigeria’s Vice President Helping Spread Fulani Cattle Colonies

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria are trading words over the controversial issue of cattle settlement colony, with VP denying reports that he was helping the establishment of Ruga settlements across the country.

Recall that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, had claimed that the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was helping herdsmen to create the Ruga settlement across the country.

However, in a statement issued by Laolu Akande on Friday and sent to The Legend, the VP said, “Contrary to claims reported in sections of the media, the establishment of Ruga settlements is not being supervised by the Office of the Vice President.

“The Ruga initiative is different from the National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

“NEC on January 17, 2019, approved the plan based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council chaired by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

“Other State Governors on the committee and Working Group of NEC are those from Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo & Zamfara – mostly the frontline States in the Farmer-Herder crises.

“The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a programme to be implemented in 7 pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara (as decided by NEC in January), being States in the frontlines of the Farmer-Herder crises.

” Afterwards, six other States have indicated readiness to also implement the plan. They are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states.

“The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.

“The six key pillars include

Economic investment

“Conflict resolution

“Justice and peace

“Humanitarian relief and early recovery

“Human capital development and

cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.

“In all the Federal Government will not impose on any State government regarding its land.”