CBN to spend N100bn on ranches in states

The National Economic Council on Thursday resolved that the Central Bank of Nigeria should provide seed funding of N100bn to assist states establish mini modern ranches across the country.

Godwin Emefiele

This was one of the solutions proffered to the incessant bloody clashes between cattle rearers and farmers in parts of the country.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Suleman Abubakar; and Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Suswam said the decision was one of the 15 recommendations made by a council committee set up to assess the issue of grazing reserves in the country.

He said 14 of the recommendations were approved.

He said the report highlighted critical issues that must be considered among others to include struggle for land and water resources by the herdsmen and farmers; uncontrolled influx of nomadic farmers into Nigeria; and issues on grazing reserves in states.

He said, “Some key recommendations in the report are: CBN to provide seed funding of N100bn to assist states establish mini modern ranches across the federation;

“All grazing reserves/cattle routes already gazette and encroached upon should be recovered and improved upon taking into consideration the present day realities;

“Ranching and Modern Technologies of Livestock Production be established – meat processing and packaging.

“Sensitization/education workshops for Herdsmen and Farmers to build trust and confidence between the parties – NOA and relevant MDAs to handle.”

Suswam added that the council directed him, Abubakar and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, to come up with the final framework for approval and implementation by the President.

He added that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, presented the draft report of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform which was reconstituted by the President in November 2011.

The governor said the NEC asked members to study the report, prepare inputs and present them at the next meeting.

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CBN to spend N100bn on ranches in states