Herdsmen, farmers’ clashes threat to Nigeria’s existence –

Residents fleeing area of massacre Enugu

ABUJA-SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara on Tuesday said there is need for deliberate and
proactive actions to end the incessant farmers and herdsmen
clashes spreading across the country,noting that if not properly
checked could divide Nigeria.
Also, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe cautioned against
creating grazing routes for the nomads as this cannot solve
the incessant clashes between them and farmers in different
states of the federation.
Some residents fleeing the Enugu community attacked by
Herdsmen yesterday.
Dogara noted this at the opening of the public hearing on the
motion on the 'urgent need to address the incessant clashes
between herdsmen, farmers and their host communities in
Nigeria' and introduction of micro irrigation (drip irrigation) for
farmers in Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency in Adamawa
State and in other parts of Nigeria', held by House Committee
on Agricultural production and services.
Dogara who was represented by Onyema Chukwuka, assured
that the Committee and stakeholders to make appropriate
recommendations that will "go a long way in guiding the
House in the enactment of appropriate legislation that will
guarantee peaceful co-existence amongst the rural
communities, provide affordable credit to Nigerian farmers,
enable the farmer to procure fertilizer and other farm inputs
with minimum effort, provide enabling environment for all
season farming, ensure increased agricultural production both
as a means of guaranteeing internal food security and
diversifying the economy from over dependence on oil,
amongst many other prospects."
In his contribution, Audu Ogbe, Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development who expressed concern over criticism
trailing proposed importation of grasses for cattle especially
on social media, warned that the challenge may boomerang if
no concrete action is taken in checkmating the menace.
He said "I hear there is a bill in the Senate seeking to create
grazing routes, where are they grazing to, to another man's
farm".
"Creating grazing routes is not the solution as it is known
world wide that cows kept in ranches produce better than
grazing cows".
According to him, 12 States of the Federation out of the 36
states contacted by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development have already confirmed readiness to partner on
the grazing and irrigation initiatives, adding that 9 States have
agreed to provide 5,000 hectares of land each for the project.