By Daniel Dauda, Jos


Following the suspension of Ruga settlement practice earlier proposed in twelve States by the Federal government, a group under the aegis of concerned Youths of Bokkos Local Government Area advised government to abolish 'Ruga settlement' and embrace livestock alimentation.

Expressing their concern during a Press conference at NUJ Secretariat in Jos, spokesperson of the group Arc.Macham Makut said as  patriotic citizens, we acknowledge the federal government's regard for the peace and progress of its citizens,in keeping with its constitutional responsibility.

"However, that the policy was drawn without the consent and inputs of the farmers whose lands are expected to be converted to Rugas is highly questionable and tantamount to land-grabbing.

"Also that the government is resettling herdsmen while thousands of crop farming peasants who were violently evicted from their homes remain in IDP camps and other uninhabitable shelters is to say the least,insensible, divisive and an unwarranted assault.

"We in Bokkos LGA, from the attacks of last year 2018 alone have over 7000 displaced persons with about nine communities desolate.

"These people have not been resettled. But we are aware that only the unilateral implementation of the Ruga program was suspended. This was not even because Nigerians opposed it, but because it was not in accordance with the design approved by the National Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Food Security Council.A letter from the President's office dated July 2,2019 to the permanent secretary of the ministry of Agriculture clearly states that a committee of the National Livestock Transformation Plan will be set up to over see the implementation of the program." Macham disclosed.

He continue" we therefore fear that the so-called suspension is only aimed at changing strategy, especially in view of the federal government's plan to repeal the Land Use Act as reported in the Punch Newspaper of Monday 8th July 2019.

"This has happened before. When the Grazing reserve bill was first rejected in 2012, it was manufactured and brought back as Ranching, later reintroduced as National Livestock Transformation Plan and now, Ruga. But we are vigilant and will resist any move to impose any unfair policy on us.

In the first place, virtually all the lands supposedly allocated for the so-called Ruga settlements are currently in use either for farming or human habitation. And as some observers have questioned, if our communities have 31,000 hectares to forfeit for the so-called Ruga settlements, how come we still experience wars sometimes over less than one hectare of land?

"The name of the proposed settlements alone brings a lot to question. A policy that is meant to benefit every one in a multicultural society like Nigeria should ordinarily bear a universal identity.

"But given that some sections of the Nigerian society are clamouring for it, with some even issuing threats over it, we want to make it clear for the records that we are totally against it." Macham cautioned.

The group further suggest livestock alimentation as the system of keeping animals within a confined space, providing them with medical and nutritional care can be better resolve the attacks on crop farmers.

According to Macham livestock alimentation means replicating the existing practices in poultry farming for cows, pigs, goats and sheep which are the commonly known destructive animals when left to stray.

"This will require a Transformation of the existing cattle paddocks otherwise known as hoggo in Fulfulde or shinge in Hausa to feedlots. The alimentation practice or feedlot system of livestock breeding was successfully employed in some climes to resolve herdsmen attacks on crop farmers.

"Anything out of this is unacceptable to us and any attempt to force the Ruga policy on our farming communities in Bokkos LGA, now or later, under whatever name will be firmly resisted through all available legal means."The group concluded.