The Presidency has called on Nigerian governors to provide lands for ranching as a means to end the incessant clashes between farmers and herders.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu made the appeal while reacting to a critical editorial of London-based The Economist.
According to him, only government of Nigeria which has ever sought a solution to the centuries-old herder-farmer disputes of the central belt remained President Buhari’s administration.
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The Economist, which said economic hardship was fuelling the current insecurity in the country, added that life had become more difficult for Nigerians as food prices skyrocketed because of the administration’s mismanagement of the economy.
However, in his response, Shehu said, ‘The Federal ranches programme, launched shortly after the President’s re-election is the first of its kind – and it is working: during the last 12 months clashes have significantly reduced.
‘The government now calls on State governors to have the imagination to join forces with the Federal administration and expand this programme by making available state lands for those interested, now that its effectiveness has been demonstrated.’
Many Nigerians have advocated for ranching as a means of achieving an end to open grazing which often appears as a recipe for disaster.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK