The Presidency has contested the ban of open grazing by the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, in states across the southern flank of the country, saying the decision is of questionable legality.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, Southern Governors’ Forum contended that the governors’ anti-open grazing stance contradicted the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy freedom of movement irrespective of the state of their birth or residence.
He said banning of open grazing by the governors was unnecessary in view of the fact that the president had since approved a number of specific measures to bring a permanent end to the frequent skirmishes between herders and farmers across the country.
Shehu said the approved measures were recommended by the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, in a report he submitted and the president had endorsed it in April.
“It is equally true that their announcement (Southern Governors) is of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT) -regardless of the state of their birth or residence.
“Fortunately, this declaration has been preempted, for whatever it is intended to achieve. Mr. President, who has rightly been worried about these problems more than any other citizen in consultation with farmers and herders alike, commissioned and approved an actionable plan of rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, starting with those that are truly committed to the solution and compliant with stated requirements.
“With veterinary clinics, water points for animals and facilities for herders and their families including schooling. Through these rehabilitated reserves, the Federal Government is making far-reaching and practical changes allowing for different communities to co-exist side-by-side: supporting farmers to till their fields, herders to rear their livestock and Nigerians everywhere to be safe.’’
Shehu said work will commence in June towards full actualisation of the modern reserve system in a few of the consenting states.
“The entire country is acutely aware of the strain the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on public finances, for both Federal and States. Still, given the pressing urgency of addressing the perennial challenges, the federal funding for the project that has been delayed is now being partly unlocked. Actual work for the full actualisation of the modern reserve system in a few of the consenting states should take off in June”.
