As part of efforts to forestall clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state, the Niger State Government has recommended the reactivation of the 23 grazing reserves that have been abandoned across the state.
A member of the Committee and Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, told newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting that the committee also recommended the education of pastoralist on “how to live peacefully with other farmers in the various communities they found themselves”.
The Committee, set up by the government, noted in its report submitted to the Niger State Executive Council at its meeting held in Minna on Monday, that only two of the reserves were functioning and they are to look into the domestication of pastoralists.
Matane, who noted that the government took the action of setting up the committee as part of the proactive measures of the Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu administration, also said other far reaching recommendations that will bring about peaceful coexistence between nomads and local farmers were recommended to government for approval and implementation.
The commissioner added that part of the recommendation was the setting up of an all encompassing committee that will have a framework to settle Fulani pastoralists.
He also said that the committee recommended the “enumeration of Fulanis, determine where they are and what they are doing” so that government can adequately take care of their interest to achieve peace in the state.
Matane said that “a White Paper committee” has been set by the SEC.
Matane disclosed that over 56,000 hectares of land has been sourced for Dangote Farms on the request of the Executive Chairman of Dangote Goup of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, when he visited Aliyu in February.
The land, he said, runs across three local government areas and covers 26 communities, while buffers will be created within the farmland areas.
He said that an assessment of the land has commenced while officials from the Dangote Group have also seen and approved the land.
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