Politics
HERDSMEN MENACE: Nigerian govt budgets N5.3bn to develop grazing reserves
While Nigerians bicker over the cattle colony policy recently proposed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ripples Nigeria has gathered that Government has earmarked N5.30bn to develop national grazing reserves in parts of the country this year.
This proposal, contained in the 2018 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly, if approved, would be used to address cattle grazing.
This is even as many states, especially in the southern part of the country have vehemently rejected the proposal to appropriate their land for development of such reserves, which the federal government has seemingly termed cattle colonies.
Nigeria has lately come under full attack of nomadic Fulani herders, even though there are allegations that many of the vicious attacks come from cross-border criminals.
Read also: Police arrest, detain Ezekwesili, other BBOG members
The Department of State Service (DSS), few days ago said the recent bloody attacks in Benue State were carried out by the West African arm of the Islamic State (ISIS).
The nation is grappling with incessant herdsmen-farmers’ clashes, which have left scores of people dead, homeless and desolate especially in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna States.
The dastardly trend recently crept into the Southwest.
The abridged version of the 2018 budget, also indicated that N6.75bn is to address rural roads and water sanitation programme, N25.1bn for promotion and development of value chain across 30 different commodities, N4bn to look at the agribusiness and market development.
It further showed that “N2bn is voted for partnership of expanded water, sanitation and hygiene (PEWASH), 40bn for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intervention programmes while N11.75 will be for other SDGs projects.”
BY Ajansii Mgbo…
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