FG To Tackle Farmers-Herdsmen Clashes.

The Federal Government has begun the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan geared towards addressing the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country.

The NLTP, which was approved in January by the National Economic Council headed by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, will support the development of ranches in seven pilot states for improved livestock production.

It will also focus on rebuilding common facilities, worship places and individual homes that have been destroyed.

Speaking with reporters during a capacity building workshop for community and religious leaders in Jos on Monday, the Advisor to the Vice-President on Rule of Law Fatima Waziri-Azi said the government was committed to implementing the policy in Plateau,Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Zamfara and Kaduna states.

She said, “We all know what is happening in the country with the security challenges. We know that the narrative out there is that the government is not doing anything about it or that even if the government is doing something, it is not doing enough to secure the lives of the citizens. But I want to tell you that the government is doing something to address the farmers-herdsmen conflict.

“At the beginning of 2018, the government started consulting stakeholders in different states on how best to tackle the farmers-herdsmen conflict. Following the consultative meetings, the Federal Government unveiled the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which aims to address the crises especially in seven states mostly affected. They are Plateau, Nassarawa,Kaduna, Zamfara,Adamawa,Taraba and Benue. So, we have started the implementation of the NLTP in the seven pilot states.”

Waziri-Azi said although the scheme was conceived to address clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the 36 states, the government would not impose the policy on any state.

She said, “We have been in conversation with different states and we know that the NLTP is an idea that is not open to all governors; that is why part of this plan is for us to develop a model ranching law which we already have and we are ready to partner any state that is interested. The Federal Government is not imposing anything on states.”