Benue Governor Samuel Ortom
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom
Benue Rejects Ruga Fulani Settlements
It has become necessary to make the position of the government
and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements
for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal Government across the
states including Benue.
A few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture
with his team in Benue State informed officials of the State
Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the
Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani
settlement’ in parts of the State.
The Director stated that the local government areas selected for
the Ruga settlements were Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum.
The Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Agriculture
drew the attention of the Director and his team to the Open Grazing
Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented in
the state. When they were also reminded about the Land Use Act
which confers on the Governor the powers to administer lands in all
parts of the State, officials of the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture left with a promise to relay the message to their
headquarters. They surprisingly returned a few days later with
contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements.
We find the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture not
only as a gross violation of the Ranching law but also as an insult
to the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue State.
It could be recalled that the people and government of Benue
State rejected cattle colonies and still reject the policy in
whichever robes it is disguised.
Governor Samuel Ortom made the stand of Benue State known during
the unveiling of the Livestock Development Programme in Abuja last
year. He stressed that the State would embrace the policy only if
it supports implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and
Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
The Governor also insisted that Benue State has no land for open
grazing of cattle and he restated ranching as a lasting solution to
the incessant herders and farmers crisis which the country ought to
embrace.
Governor Ortom made similar presentations at different fora to
buttress why open grazing of livestock is not feasible in a densely
populated country with over 200 million people.
During the National Council on Agriculture summit which took
place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year, the Federal Ministry
of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement patterns on the
states but the Benue State delegation seized the opportunity to
remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has
phased out open grazing. No one at the summit put forth an
alternative method of animal husbandry to counter the state’s
presentation.
It could also be recalled that the National Economic Council,
NEC, had also unanimously adopted ranching as the best method of
livestock breeding for the country. It is therefore shocking to see
the Federal Government turning round to establish Fulani herdsmen
settlements in some states including Benue, contrary to the
position of NEC.
We wish to remind those pushing for Ruga settlements that the
Constitution of the country gives states the right to make laws for
the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert such right
is a direct attack on the Constitution. Those behind such a move
are enemies of peace and progress.
The Government of Benue State is willing to support cattle
owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting
open grazing.
We however wish to reiterate that Benue State has no land for
grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or ruga
settlements. The State only has land for the establishment of
ranches.
Terver Akase
Chief Press Secretary