Buhari govt approves RUGA settlement for herdsmen in Benue, others

By: Ene Okwanihe

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Audu Ogbeh
The Nigerian government has approved the Ruga settlement programme for herders to help bring an end to farmers/herders clashes.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Audu Ogbeh said the settlement would provide social amenities such as schools, security and Milk Palour for the herders.

“Just 10 Days ago President Muhammadu Buhari approved a programme called the Ruga settlement. We are going to build settlements where herders will live, grow their cattles and produce milk. The milk will be bought by a Milking palour thus preventing their wives from moving around with milk. This is especially to avert any conflicts between the herders and the farmers.

“The fact that you keep cattle doesn’t mean you have to be poor or suffer, your children don’t have to be in the bush, suffering from snake bites, scorpions, typhoid, cholera and attacks from rustlers. In Tanzania, the Massai don’t roam anymore, they are settled and they are rich, it is time for you to be rich also,”he said.

Mr. Ogbeh said when all these are done, the herders would have no reason to roam into farms.

According to him, cattle rearing is a huge business as Lagos State alone consumes nearly 70,000 cattle a day.

The Minister added that the budget and the memo for the Ruga settlement programme has been approved by the Federal Executive council and would soon commence.

(Credit: Voice of Nigeria (VON)