Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, says he is willing to convert 14 grazing reserves in the state to ranches if the federal government provides N140 billion as support funding.
The governor’s comment comes amid efforts to address farmer-herder clashes across the country.
Some southern states have banned open grazing.
Speaking on the matter while addressing journalists on Tuesday at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, el-Rufai said: “We have taken a position as northern state governors and we are implementing that. And in my state, for instance, we are developing a huge ranch to centralise the herders. And that is the solution, a long-term solution. But can it be done overnight?”
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Also Read: Delta Assembly Passes Anti-Open Grazing Bill
“This project we are doing will cost us about N10 billion. The CBN is supporting us with about N7.5 billion. And it will take about two years to do. We will be settling Fulani herdsmen and their families.
“I hope that they will see that there are alternative ways of producing livestock, instead of running up and down with cattle, going to people’s farms to cause all kinds of problems. We want to solve the problem.
“What is unhelpful is to politicise the situation and pass legislation that you know that you cannot implement. So, we have taken a position and we are working round the clock to implement that position.
“These herders emanate from the north and we are going to centralise them. We cannot do it overnight. We need billions of naira. This is just one ranch that is costing N10 billion. I have 14 grazing reserves in Kaduna state and I will like to convert them into ranching. Do I have 14 times N10 billion? I don’t have.
Also Read: Miyetti Allah Dumps Open Grazing, Agrees to Feedlot System in Ondo
“If the federal government will give me N140 billion, I will convert the other thirteen into ranches and make sure that nobody comes out with a cow or sheep in Kaduna state, because I will have enough ranches to take care of everybody.
“That is the solution. You can legislate, but let us wait and see. And I wish them the best of luck.”
