In a bid to tackle the lingering farmers-herders crisis in the northwest and Katsina State in particular, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has taken a bold step in implementing the national livestock management transformation in the state.
The ranching project is currently ongoing across the 10 front-line local government areas in proximity to Rugu forest, a dreaded hideout of bandits who have carried out several attacks on innocent citizens.
The incessant attacks have crippled socio-economic activities of the state.
Recall that the federal government in 2019 launched a ten-year livestock transformation plan to thwart the movement of cattle, boost livestock production and end the incessant deadly herders-farmers conflict that has been the major cause of banditry in the country.
While the project is yet to see the light of day in some states due to certain exigencies, the Katsina State government has since embarked on implementing the plan and has reached its peak of completion.
The project became more visible after the state government received N6.25 billion from the federal government as part of the N12 billion designated to fund the project. This is in addition to strategies designed by Governor Masari to key into the programme after his visit to bandits’ hideout for a peace accord.
The governor met the leaders of the Fulani, who complained of being neglected by the government while they were facing several attacks that led to the loss of their livelihood, wealth and valuables. This enticed most of the youths to embrace cattle rustling and kidnapping and other nefarious acts to survive.
It was also observed that the majority of those who indulged in the illegal acts lacked both western and Islamic education, which further gave rise to the need for the government to establish an all-encompassing ranching facility for the Fulani community across the concerned LGAs.
Interestingly, the state government after receiving the N6.25 billion sought approval from the State House of Assembly in ensuring prudent spending of the amount and thereby mandated the Department of Livestock and Grazing Reserves to commence the implementation.
The department has since arrived at getting the preferred qualified contractors and began execution of the project across all 10 LGAs simultaneously as part of its first phase of the ranching plans of the state.
Speaking during the recent assessment tour, special adviser to the governor on Livestock Management and Grazing Reserves, Dr Lawal Usman Bagiwa, said contractors were mobilised to the sites after reaching an agreement.
He added that all the projects are currently being executed in Danmusa, Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dutsin-ma, Kurfi, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume LGAs – the most hit areas – to give the Fulani community the needed attention.
He reaffirmed that the building facilities in each site consist of a block of two classrooms, a mosque, a borehole, a veterinary clinic, a hospital, a milking centre, a slaughtering slab, homestay accommodation and 100 hectares of land for grazing.
According to him, the government before embarking on the project has made several consultations and carried out a series of sensitisation meetings with relevant stakeholders of both the farmers and the herders, including heads of security agencies and traditional rulers, to arrive at suitable locations for the edifices.
Commenting on the level of performance, Bagiwa said he was impressed with the work, which according to him has reached 80 per cent completion, assuring that all the projects would be commissioned in March this year.
He also tasked the beneficiaries to take care of the edifices when put to use and not to allow anyone to destroy them, urging the Fulani community to endeavour to talk to their brothers in the forest and know that the entire world is pursuing peace because without peace, humankind would lose its values.
The special adviser pledged the government’s readiness to provide teachers to the school for adequate teaching and learning.
Also, the chairman, State House Committee on Agriculture, Hon Abubakar Tunas, explained to the Fulani community in Gundawa settlement, Kankara LGA that the N6.25 billion given to the state was captured in the budget allocation for adequate utilisation, reaffirming that the house also decided to monitor how the fund is being spent in the 10 LGAs.
The Kanwan Katsina, Hakimi Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello, thanked the state and federal governments for capturing Kankara LGA and Gundawa community in particular to be part of the beneficiaries and assured to set up a committee to ensure the maintenance of the ranching settlement in the area.
He then tasked the benefiting community to look after the buildings because they belong to them, warning them not to let anyone ruin what the government has built for their use.
Some of the beneficiaries appreciated the government for the foresight to initiate the ranch idea which was believed to go a long way in addressing the farmers-herders clash in the state.
One of the beneficiaries at Tashan Mai-Alia community in Danmusa LGA, Ibrahim Sani, said he was impressed by the bold step of the government to build the facilities in their settlement, adding that the project would greatly assist their children to get educated and have a change of character.
He prayed that God would replenish the government for the good plan they have got for the Fulani community in the area and whatever resources that have committed to the project.
Also, the district head of Fankama village in Faskari LGA, Rufai Mai Fankama, expressed his appreciation to the government for considering the community which is dominantly inhabited by Fulanis, assuring that they would adequately take care of the project for the benefit of the people in the community.
LEADERSHIP observed that the projects have been very successful in virtually all the 10 LGAs visited, except in Safana LGA where insecurity has slowed down construction in a few areas, but the prompt intervention by the visiting team brought in a renewed scheme to continue the project hopeful to be commissioned next month alongside with others.
