UPDATED: Buhari Suspends Ruga Settlement Projects

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the controversial Ruga
programme, the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi announced on
Wednesday.

Mr Umahi made the announcement Wednesday after a meeting of the
National Executive Council (NEC) committee on farmers/herders
crisis. The meeting held at the State House, Abuja.

“We are aware that today that Mr President has suspended the
implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented
by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government
approved National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) which has
programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the
crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the
federation,” Mr Umahi said.

The NEC is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo and had
developed the NLTP as a long-term solution to the perennial
herdsmen and farmers crisis.

The Ruga is a programmed recently announced by the federal
government to enable willing states to contribute large areas of
land to the federal government for construction of animal husbandry
settlements.

The presidency had said 12 states have indicated willingness to
be part of the programme.

The Ruga programme has, however, been criticised by many
Nigerians with many state governors opposing it.

Speaking on their meeting on Wednesday, Mr Umahi said, “We the
NEC committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of
His Excellency Mr Vice President met today to deliberate on the
approved programme of National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal
Government, tagged, ‘the National Livestock Transformation
Programme’

“The National Livestock Transformation Plan, its beauty is that
what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36
states who may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory, it is
for any state that is willing, will key into the programme.

“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to
bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the
implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique
to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the
crisis. That’s the decision of this committee,” the governor
said.

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Police Investigate Senator Abbo Elisha over Assault of
Female Citizens

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM,mni has
ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances
surrounding the alleged assault on a female Nigerian by Senator
Abbo Elisha.

Specifically, the IGP directed the Commissioner of Police in
charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP
Bala Ciroma to provide a personal and round-the-clock supervision
of every facet of the investigation, including the Forensic
analysis of the video currently in circulation as well as the
actions/inactions of the Policeman seen in the video footage.

The IGP, while assuring citizens of utmost professionalism by
the Police in the handling of the matter, promised that the Force
will ensure that justice is manifestly done in this case
irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Bala Ciroma has
already established contact with the victim of the assault and has
commenced investigation in earnest into the case.

The IGP thanked Nigerians for their massive show of empathy and
concern for the rights of their fellow citizen and urged continuous
citizens’ engagement in the tackling of the wider challenges of
security in our country.

DCP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA