The nineteen Northern Governors under the aegis of Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) have appealed for funds in form of grants from the Federal Government to establish pilot projects of modern livestock production in order to break resistance to migratory way of cattle rearing that is currently triggering crisis across the country.
The appeal for funds was contained in a communique after a meeting which was presided by Mr. Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau State held on Monday.
The Forum expressed concern that the wave of insecurity was on the rise, and was widening the gap of unity of the country by the day, a situation they maintained would be devastating to the nation if nothing was done to curtail it immediately.
The communique which was sighted BY CAPITAL POST on Tuesday in Abuja further reads: “We appeal to the Federal Government to support States with grants to directly undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production that will serve as springboard and evidence for breaking resistance to the full implementation of new methods of livestock production.
“Resolved to engage elders and youths in a robust discussion with a view to dousing the tensed security environment in the north. Accordingly, a four-man Committee was put in place to be headed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.
Also the communique pointed out that eviction notices by some governors in the Southern part of the country was heating the northern zone with the possibility of reprisal attacks which the NGF was working hard to avert.
“Called for restraint from leaders including those in the Southern parts of the country where passions are high. Similarly, they called on all the citizens of the north to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians irrespective of their origins and backgrounds.
“On security of the region and the nation, the Forum noted with concern the growing wave of insecurity in the country particularly as it relates to circulation of unverified video clips on social media portraying violent attacks on persons in some parts of the country.
“Called on political leaders to segregate between criminality and social groups in their domains with a view to treating criminals as criminals. The Forum reiterates that it condemns every form of criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally.
“Noted with concern the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in some parts of the country.
“Expressed concern that this is heating the already fragile security atmosphere with threats of reprisals which the Northern Governors are working assiduously to contain.
“Stresses the urgent need for the Nigerian Governors Forum to meet and discuss the issue wholistically with a view to resolving all areas of misunderstanding and conflicts arising from these threats and suspicion for the sake of national unity.
They maintained that open grazing in Nigeria was no longer possible, given that there was development across the country now than before as well as growth in population, while they promised to sensitise herders on the need to settle for a system that.would restrict their movement.
“Notes with concern that the current system of herding conducted mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable in view of growing urbanization and population of the country.
“Consequently, Forum resolved to aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to adapt new methods of herding by ranching or other acceptable modern methods.”
