As part of measures to curb indiscriminate cattle grazing in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory FCT Administration said it has entered into discussions with investors and development partners on the establishment of value chain ventures in the livestock subsector so as to develop needed infrastructure.
The move is also to create more job opportunities, enhance incomes, and improve lives and livelihoods of communities within and around FCT’s grazing reserves.
Minister of State in the FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday when she flagged off a sensitisation campaign and the distribution of supplementary feeds to pastoralists and farmers in the four grazing reserves of the territory
Specifically, she said “plans are underway, with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to establish a model Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) on livestock production, in the FCT”.
According to her, the SAPZ would grant the administration the wherewithal to bring to an end the indiscriminate grazing of animals in the Federal Capital City.
Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Mr Austine Elemue in a statement added that the move also aims to address the persistent conflicts between crop farmers and pastiralists.
The minister who performed the ceremony in Wasa district of FCT said the action of the administration was aimed at promoting integration, peaceful co-existence as well as boost livestock production in the nation’s capital.
Federal Government Moves To Rediscover Lost Grazing Routes For Farmers/Herdsmen
Aliyu noted that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, was determined to restore the lost glory of the agricultural sector, which had hitherto been somewhat abandoned following the discovery and adoption of oil as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.
“It is estimated that Nigeria’s population will continue to witness exponential rise and attendant growth in the demand for food. To ensure that any uncertainty related to food security is adequately addressed, the Federal Government of Nigeria made the establishment and development of grazing reserves a key aspect of its Agricultural Promotion Programmes (APP) for the Country, with the livestock subsector playing a prominent role.
“The establishment and development of grazing reserves is therefore aimed at providing pastoralists and crop farmers with an integrated environment under which both can operate optimally, access their needs in a harmonious environment and eliminate issues that could result in conflicts. The overall objective is to promote peaceful coexistence towards harnessingthe huge potentials that exist in the livestock subsector,” Aliyu stressed.
The minister affirmed that pursuant to this objective, the FCT Administration has been implementing programmes towards creating the enabling environment for the two groups as well as other willing investors to operate and make positive impacts in enhancing food security and socio-economic well-being of the residents.
Earlier in his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said the FCTA has through its relevant agencies as well as other stakeholders been doing its best to bring the parties together to embrace peace especially in grazing reserves where much of the clashes occur.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director in charge of Operations, Planning and Strategy in the office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Samuel Attang, noted that the dry season has been associated with increase in movement of pastoralists in search of feeds for their animals, adding that due to this movement, there might be likelihood of conflict between the two groups.
In his welcome address, the Acting Secretary of FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Prospect, stressed the importance of livestock sector in the quest to attain food security, noting that if the sector was well harnessed, it has the capacity to generate jobs and income as well as provide the nutritional value that was required for healthy human development.
He, therefore, commended the Minister of State for demonstrating dynamism in addressing the issue, adding that the incidences of violent conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers has hindered efforts of government to fully harness the potential of the sector towards achieving the desired objectives.
By Omeiza Ajayi
