Buhari approves committee to oversee rebuilding of communities affected by herdsmen-farmers clashes

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the formation of a new committee to look into the rebuilding of communities affected by the herdsmen-farmers violence in affected states of the country.

Laolu Akande, spokesperson to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in a statement Thursday, said Osinbajo announced the approval at the monthly meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) which he chairs.

Akande said the committee, which would be headed by the vice president, would also find ways of providing welfare and other needed facilities in affected communities.

“The President has asked me to head the committee,” Osinbajo was quoted as announcing to state governors, who constitute membership of NEC, alongside the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The Council was also reportedly briefed on the activities of the NEC Working Group.

The Working Group was set up at the last NEC meeting to achieve the president’s mandate of bringing all perpetrators of violence to book.

Since then, the Group has met twice and formed a technical sub-committee, headed by Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, which has been given the assignment of consultations with some of the affected communities, Akande stated.

Read also: Nigeria cannot achieve peace without justice- IGP Idris

He further disclosed that Osinbajo reiterated that the Federal Government would not impose on state governments, but would share templates on best practices for the conduct of livestock production and business.

The spokesperson highlighted some of the recommendations of the Working Group to include the need for joint Military-Police Operation to manage violent outbreak where required while also calling for more efficient intelligence gathering.

Similarly, the Working Group called for the use of the Military force to flush out bandits whose activities have been linked to the clashes, and also for active engagement with traditional leaders to foster peace in their communities.

It further recommended the training of an Agro Rangers Corps to provide security around ranches, livestock production centres and grazing routes.

The Council was also briefed by the Special Adviser to the President on the Social Investment Programme (SIP), Mrs Maryam Uwais. She noted that, so far, a total of 7,812,201 Nigerians had directly benefitted from all the programmes under the Buhari administration’s National SIP, while 1,500,000, mainly farmers and cooks, were secondary beneficiaries, Akande said.

 

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