No Ruga in Rivers, available land is for commercial agriculture to empower our youths – Wike

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has joined the growing number of state governors who have rejected the federal government’s proposed Ruga settlements for herdsmen in the 36 states of the country.

The governor said Rivers State should not be counted among states for the Ruga settlement, both now and in the future.

According to him, the available lands in the state would be needed to start commercial agriculture across the state, to create employment for Rivers youths.

The governor made his mind on the Ruga issue known in a statement signed and released by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim on Tuesday.

Insisting that the state had no land for the implementation of such policy, Nsirim maintained that what is in Wike’s mind is prioritising commercial agriculture, during his second term in office.

READ ALSO: Herders given a sense of impunity, RUGA must prioritize humanity- Soyinka

Clearly stating that the state government had not given any land for the setting up of Ruga settlements anywhere in Rivers and don’t intend to in future, Nsirim said Wike would continue to defend the interest of Rivers people, who have overwhelmingly rejected cattle colonies, Ruga settlements and any such policy.

The five governors of South East, as well as Ekiti State governor who doubles as chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, are among those to have openly rejected the Ruga settlement proposal.

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