FG Replaces Ruga With National Livestock Transformation Plan
By Joyce Aroh Abakaliki
The Federal Government has suspended the plan to build Ruga settlements in some states in Nigeria while also approved national livestock transformation plan for any interested state.
The Chairman of the National Food Security/Herders/Farmers Conflict, David Umahi while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said that the suspension is owing to lack of consistency by NEC and FG’s approved national livestock transformation plan .
He said: “We the NEC committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Vice President met today to deliberate on the approved programme of National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Government, tagged, “the National Livestock Transformation Programme”
“We are aware that today that Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented by the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan which has programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the Federation. The key word is willing state of the federation.
“The National Livestock Transformation plan, its beauty is that what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme.
“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis. That’s the decision of this committee.”
Those at the meeting were governors of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Plateau, Simon Lalong, Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu and Adamawa Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari.
National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) is chaired by the Vice President.
Other State Governors on the committee and Working Group of NEC are those from Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Zamfara – mostly the frontline States in the Farmer-Herder crises.
