Pastoralists Accuse North East Commission Of Neglect

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has commended the federal government for establishing the North East Development Commission (NEDC) but lamented its members’ exclusion from critical projects.

Its national president, Khalil Mohammed Bello, in a statement he issued in Damaturu, said the pastoral communities of the North East region were filled with enthusiasm and hope since the establishment of the NEDC but decried their exclusion from the activities of the commission.

Bello said the commission was established with the specific purpose of reconstructing the region after the devastating impact of Boko Haram activities, providing support to vulnerable and internally displaced persons.

He said, “The pastoralists’ highest excitement was innocently based on these promises and we celebrated the establishment of the NEDC with the anticipation of the needed assistance.”

However, Bello said KACRAN had been disheartened to find that despite the high regard in which they hold the members of the NEDC’s governing board, the pastoralists’ interests seem to have been overlooked as the commission commenced its operations.

He said it had become apparent that the focus of the NEDC’s efforts had been on the urban centres and refugee camps, which were more visible to the presidency and the international community, rather than on the rural areas and villages that have been severely impacted by the aforementioned calamities.

KACRAN therefore called on the NEDC to uphold the principle of justice and equity and to ensure that the pastoralists of the North East are included in the region’s recovery and development efforts.