Despite the Federal Government\u2019s suspension of its Ruga Settlement Policy, youths under the aegis of
\nConcerned Youths of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have kicked against the programme, warning any of such settlement in their locality would be vehemently resisted.<\/p>\n
The youths equally called on the Federal Government to abolish the policy, advising them to instead adopt Livestock Alimentation to stem the incessant farmer-herder clashes.<\/p>\n
The group made its position known through its spokesman, Arch. Macham Makut, while addressing journalists in Jos, the State Capital.<\/p>\n
Makut said, \u201cAs patriotic citizens, we acknowledge the Federal Government\u2019s regard for the peace and progress of its citizens, in keeping with its constitutional responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, that the policy was drawn without the consent and inputs of the farmers whose lands are expected to be converted to Rugas is highly questionable and tantamount to land-grabbing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, that the government is considering resettling herdsmen while thousands of crop farming peasants who were violently evicted from their homes remain in IDP camps and other uninhabitable shelters is to say the least, insensible, divisive and an unwarranted assault.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then declared that, \u201cWe in Bokkos LGA, from the attacks of last year 2018 alone have over 7000 displaced persons with about nine communities desolate. These people have not been resettled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are aware that only the unilateral implementation of the Ruga program was suspended. This was not even because Nigerians opposed it, but because it was not in accordance with the design approved by the National Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Food Security Council.<\/p>\n
Makut disclosed that, \u201cA letter from the President\u2019s office dated July 2, 2019 to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture clearly States that a committee of the National Livestock Transformation Plan will be set up to oversee the implementation of the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe therefore fear that the so-called suspension is only aimed at changing strategy, especially in view of the FG\u2019s plan to repeal the Land Use Act as reported in the Punch Newspaper of Monday 8th July 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has happened before; when the Grazing Reserve bill was first rejected in 2012, it was manufactured and brought back as Ranching\/Colonies, later reintroduced as National Livestock Transformation Plan and now, Ruga.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are vigilant and will resist any move to impose any unfair policy on us.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome to think of it, Plateau State for over a decade has witnessed a series of violent herdsmen attacks with thousands of innocent citizens killed, and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the victims of these dastardly acts have ever received any Federal compensation or grant to start life again, despite losing all their means of livelihood, and in some instances, breadwinners to the attacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not to talk of the many perpetrators of the attacks that were arrested and freed without facing justice as required by the law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government in fact recently told Nigerians that those attacking communities were foreigners. If those claims are even anything to go by, why then are we being forced to accommodate foreign terrorists? He asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first place, virtually all the lands supposedly allocated for the so-called Ruga settlements are currently in use either for farming or human habitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cGlad enough, some of the Fulani leaders are not comfortable with the arrangement as it seeks to isolate them from communities they have peacefully coexisted with.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Concerned Youths of Bokkos further said, \u201cBut given that some sections of the Nigerian society are clamouring for it, with some even issuing threats over it, we want to make it clear for the records that we are totally against it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best option, for us, is for every livestock farmer to cage his animals and raise them privately without constituting nuisance or threats to their neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter all, livestock rearing just as crop farming is a private business. Livestock Alimentation as the system of keeping animals within a confined space, providing them with medical and nutritional care can better resolve the attacks on crop farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cLivestock Alimentation means replicating the existing practices in poultry farming for cows, pigs, goats, and sheep which are the commonly known destructive animals when left to stray.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite the Federal Government\u2019s suspension of its Ruga Settlement Policy, youths under the aegis of Concerned Youths of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have kicked against the programme, warning any of such settlement in their locality would be vehemently resisted. The youths equally called on the Federal Government to abolish the policy, advising […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":12568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,14],"tags":[517,583,557,736],"class_list":["post-12558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-council","tag-idps","tag-local-government","tag-ruga"],"yoast_head":"\n