Cattle Colonies Will Generate N1.2tr Yearly – GOPRI

The Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI) has announced that Nigeria would generate N1.2tr yearly through cattle colonies if the thirty-six states of the Federation complies with the government’s plan.

Although there have been several condemnations from opposing groups about the Federal Governments plan to establish cattle colonies in the states, the GOPRI group stands firm with the government plan and believes that the plan would reduce and possibly eliminate the killings between herdsmen and farmers in the states.

However, Governor’s in the South East Region have rejected the Federal Government’s plan to establish cattle colonies. The governors believe there is no operational guide in the plan and would, therefore, cause more crisis in the country.

The position of the South East Governors is that of lack of understanding in the nature of the policy. Nigerian’s do not seem to understand who the land would be allocated to, whether it is the federal government, the herdsmen or the owners of the farm. There is also the problem of clarity in the number of cattle currently in the country and how many cows would be allocated to one colony. The opposing Governors believes that the Federal Government needs to be more open in the nature of the plan to gain the confidence of the people and also to eliminate their fears.

Despite doubts from some of the governors, GOPRI group emphasized that creation of the cattle colony would end the ongoing crisis and the killings it leaves in its wake.

GOPRI believes that the cattle colony policy which intends to acquire 10,000 hectares of land in each of the 36 states of Nigeria approved by governors would provide housing for cattle’s and the herdsmen and there would be enough space to graze the cattle on pastures. Therefore lives of the herdsmen and cattle are protected and there would be no crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

The group also emphasized that if the plan is well executed that the implementation of the cattle colony would create about 322,000 new employment for Nigerians.

Dr. Emeka Ugwuanyi, the Director Press and Public Affairs of GOPRI also agreed that cattle colony was the most desirable option to put an end to the herders and farmers crisis bedevilling the country.