photo credit-vanguard news
Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai said it was difficult to enforce the herding laws that his counterparts in southern Nigeria had imposed to reduce insecurity in the region.
Then he warned him not to put a lot of energy into the law, adding that it would take time to put it into practice.
During a visit to the headquarters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Tuesday, El-Rufai announced that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had supported his country with N 7.5 billion of the N 10 billion used to build the required farms.
With more than 14 grazing reserves in Kaduna state, he also revealed that he would be happy if the Nigerian government could help his country develop NZZ 140 billion grazing reserves.
El-Rufay said southern governors need not politicize herding rights and pass laws they believe are unenforceable.
Regarding legislation to combat open grazing, he notes, “The North's Governors Forum has taken the position that open grazing is not a sustainable way to raise livestock. And we have to move on to breeding.
“But the transition to livestock cannot be done overnight. We need to have plans, we need to have resources and implement them wisely. It's not about populist law or saying this or that tomorrow. That's not a solution.
"And in my state, for example, we're building a large farm to concentrate herders. And that's a solution for a long time. But can it be done overnight."
“This project that we are doing will cost around 10 billion. CBN supports us with around N7.5 billion. And it will take about two years. We will be hosting about 1,500 Fulani herding families.
“And I hope they see that there is an alternative way to produce livestock instead of moving livestock to people's farms to cause problems. We want to solve the problem.
"There's no point in politicizing the situation and passing laws you know you can't enforce. So we have taken a position and are working around the clock to implement this position.
"And we're going to centralize these herders from the north. Overnight, we can't do it. Thousands of naira are needed. This is just a 10 billion-dollar ranch. In the State of Kaduna I have 14 pasture reserves and I want to transform them into ranchs.butthetocaterforfourteenranchesisnotsmallmoney.
"When the federal government gives me N140 billion, I will convert the other 13 into farms and ensure that no one goes out with cows or sheep in Kaduna because I have enough farms to feed everyone. Here's how to fix it. You have the authority to enact legislation, but let us wait and see. And I wish you the best of luck."