Gov. allocates 95km stretch of land to militant Miyetti faction for grazing, releases fund

As President Muhammadu Buhari orders a review of grazing sites and trade routes across the nation some governors have vowed to not allow any portion of their state ceded for grazing.

Others are however ready.

Jigawa is poised to expand its existing cattle grazing reserves, Gov. Muhammad Badaru has said.

The assurance is contained in a statement issued by in Dutse on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, Alhaji Habibu Kila.

Kila said Badaru gave the assurance when he received the state’s Chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a sociocultural and economic organisation, Alhaji Umar Kabir, in Dutse on Friday.

Kautal Hore is a break-away group from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association on Nigeria.

Kautal Hore has been militant in its response to the general outcry against herdsmen violence, asserting Fulani has equal rights town any land anywhere in Nigeria.

The governor however revealed effort it has made in reducing farmer-herder crises in the state.

“As a result of our recent working tour to The Netherlands, plans are underway to expand the existing cattle routes and gracing reserves which will provide enough all-year grass for nomads,’’ the governor said.

The governor also called on the group to support its fight against vices among the Fulani, especially the youths, who engaged in criminal activities.

The aide added that the governor also promised to continue to provide qualitative education to all citizens of the state, including nomads.

“In addition to about 400 nomadic schools across state, this administration will establish 200 more of such schools.

“It will also employ 10 Fulfulde-speaking teachers from each of the 27 local government areas of the state to ensure effective teaching and learning,’’ the governor said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Kabir lauded the state government for ensuring peace in the state.

He promised that the group would do everything possible to maintain the peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.

The chairman assured that the group, with the support of government, would assist in fishing out bad eggs among Fulani in the state.

Jigawa’s Farmers and Herdsmen Board announced in April that it would demarcate 95km of land as grazing reserves as part of measures to tackle farmers/herders clashes in the state.

Its spokesman, Malam Zubairu Sulaiman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) then that the reserves would be carved out in Babura, Birninkudu, Gagarawa, Gumel, Gwaram, Buji, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Kafinhausa and Kirikasamma Local Government Areas.

He said the state government had released more than N7 million for the exercise.

On Jan. 1, 2008, former Gov. Sule Lamido established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted.

The decision to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido to address incessant clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

As part of efforts to encourage and enhance the vocation of pastoralists, Jigawa vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases between 2007 and 2014