NIGERIA: NORTH-CENTRAL DELEGATES ASk FOR GRAZING RESERVES COMMISSION

North-Central delegates to the National Conference have made a case for the establishment of a National Grazing Reserves Commission. The delegates in a memorandum, which was jointly sponsored by Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Magdalyne Mbadzendan Dura, both delegates representing North Central and Benue State, said if the recommendation sails through, would specifically provide for the establishment, preservation and control of national grazing reserves and livestock routes. Ayu in a letter copied to the National Conference committees on agriculture, national security and law, judiciary, human rights and legal reforms, informing them of the development, however hinged the recommendation on the recent clashes involving Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country, where several people were reportedly killed. "In recent times, Nigeria has recorded violent conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country, leading in most cases to loss of lives, properties and displacement of the farmers. "These conflicts have been actuated by the continuous search for green pastures and water by the herdsmen for their livestock. "Cattle are the predominant livestock in Nigeria and they are reared mainly by the nomadic Fulani of Northern Nigeria. Nomadic pastoralism is characterised by movement of cattle by nomads in search of pasture and water,” he said. The memo titled: “Grazing Reserves Ranch” should be done away with, adding that the National Livestock Policy should be put in place to regulate the rearing of livestock in accordance with global best practices. “In the interim, arrest and prosecution of persons perpetrating and sponsoring herders- farmers conflict should be taken care off. A Transnational Trade Policy should also be put in place by the federal government to regulate cross-border movement and management of livestock and persons. The document further said that the Nigeria Immigration and Custom Services should regulate document the entry and exit of cattle rearers and livestock from neighbouring countries. It suggested that livestock breeding states should enter into trade agreements with states that are endowed with arable land (such as Benue State) to produce grass/ fodder/ hay for exchange for cash or livestock products. According to the delegates, federal and state governments should sponsor livestock research in order to promote improved breeding, feeding, management and marketing. "The federal government and relevant states should undertake public enlightenment through radio programmes, specifically targeted at educating the nomadic-Fulani of the advantages of domesticating cattle rearing and the need for paradigm shift in their cultural approach to cattle breeding" it said.