Since the proposal for the establishment of Rural Grazing Area, RUGA, settlements across some states in the country by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the initiative has been greeted with a lot of reactions and allegations from Nigerians and the proposed states.
The plan according to reports is to try to put an end to the recurring conflict between herders and farmers.
Some of the reactions are allegations that the initiative is a ploy of the federal government to forcefully take over lands that belongs to these states for nomadic herders, thereby inheriting the lands.
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Another allegation is that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will use the RUGA initiative to push for the islamization of Nigeria.
Recall that the Benue State Government and several notable Southern and Middle Belt socio-political groups completely condemned the plan and called for it to be scrapped.
In the face of these allegations and more, what then are the facts about RUGA?
Facts About RUGA
According to a press statement dated June 30 and signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, RUGA seeks to settle animal farmers and herders in an organized place with provision of necessary and adequate basic amenities such as schools, hospitals, road networks, vet clinics, markets and manufacturing entities that will process and add value to meat and animal products.
FG Will Not Grab Land From States
There is no government plan to seize state land, colonize territory or impose RUGA on any part of the federation, adding that the programme is voluntary.
Only Interested States Will Participate
Only states that show interested would participate in the scheme. Twelve states have so far applied to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and made lands available for the take-off of the scheme in their states.
Pilot States
The states where the pilot scheme will be carried out are Sokoto, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Taraba, Katsina, Plateau, Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger. FG said the pilot states are enough for the pilot scheme.
Conflict Reduction Between Farmers/Herders
RUGA according to the statement will benefit the nation through drastic reduction in conflicts between herders and farmers, as well as boost animal protection complete with a value chain that will increase the quality and hygiene of livestock in terms of beef and milk production, increased quality of feeding and access to animal care and private sector participation in commercial pasture production by way of investments.
Job Creation/Access To Credit Facilities, Others
The statement further disclosed that the other gains of RUGA are job creation, access to credit facilities, security for pastoral families and curtailment of cattle rustling.
Why is the Federal Government so keen and using all subtle means to enforce this policy on the people? How many people other than the FULANIS are rearing and roaming around with their cows? It is really strange and shameful for old men who are close to their graves to be lying in the guise of hiding their real intentions. I wonder what these so-called old men will tell their creator when they die and meet them. Buhari and his foot soldiers know very well that people know all their game plans. The people of the Middle Belt and other regions said no to RUGA settlement in their ancestral lands, yet Buhari is still forcing it on the people. This move alone is suspicious. Buhari and his co-travellers should note that the people of Nigeria will defend their fatherland with the last drops of their blood if he wants to impose it on the people. The story of the ARAB SPRING that started in 2014 in Northern Africa and the Middle East is still fresh in the mind. A child that says his mother will no sleep will stay awake too!