The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 20 February 2018 urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to liaise with State Ministries of Agriculture to speedily educate and encourage herdsmen on the benefits of ranching.
Presenting the motion on the floor, Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (PDP: Nasarawa) stated that the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers had presented serious security challenges in Nigeria. He said that most of those clashes originated from the practice of herdsmen roaming across the length and breadth of the country in search of grazing pastures for their cattle and trespassing into and damaging crops in farms as a result. He explained that the grazing practice of the herdsmen exposed them to danger from cattle rustlers and kidnappers and placed them in conflict with farmers whose crops are trampled by their cattle.
He also criticized the Federal Government’s proposal to establish cattle colonies in every State in Nigeria to cater for herdsmen and their cattle as resulting in senseless and avoidable loss of lives and properties in most cases. He expressed concern that the decision to establish cattle colonies in each State could be in violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Land Use Act.
In addition, Hon. Onawo was of the view that since other groups aside the Fulani also engage in cattle rearing, modern breeding practices should be encouraged. He was convinced that ranching offered a preferable solution to the recurring conflicts between herdsmen and farmers than the proposed FG’s cattle colonies in each state of the Federation provided that the herdsmen were fully sensitized and educated about the benefits of the program. This would also enable them assume full ownership of the ranches.
Contributing to the motion, Hon. Aisha Dukku (APC: Gombe) said cattle rearing was as a way of life for the Fulani people and not a business. She also faulted Hon. Onawo’s proposition stating that no state in Nigeria had the specie of grass to feed the cows if they became ranched. However, Hon. Joan Mrakpo (PDP: Delta) called for a discontinuance of any culture or business that could lead to the loss of lives of Nigerians and stated that it was the willingness to ranch that was lacking as there was availability of land.
The House mandated its Committee on Agriculture Production and Services to ensure implementation and report within eight (8) weeks for further legislative action.
