Northern govs finally dump RUGA, adopt livestock plan

Northern Governors have risen from their emergency meeting in Kaduna on Thursday to dump the controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy for National Livestock Transformation Plan, as best way to tackle the age long herder/farmers clashes in the region.

They also resolved to continue to adopt a sustainable and holistic approach towards tackling the security challenges in the region.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, Governor Simon Lalong had told newsmen at the opening of the meeting that, the forum had set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, to inter-alia develop a comprehensive regional plan of action that could bring lasting solutions to the lingering crises, and shall receive briefing from this committee and also deliberate on their findings and recommendations.

However, at the end of the meeting, Lalong said, the forum has adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which according to him, lays out clear path for modernizing pastoral activities.

According to him: “On Agriculture, the Forum was well informed about the National Livestock Transformation Plan and its disparities with the Ruga plan.
“It is expected that the plan would ensure resettling and addressing the dislocated populations in the key conflict zones to enable them become part of the agricultural modernization process.

“In the same vein, it would provide a mechanism for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the affected communities towards a harmonious mutually beneficial future.