In Minna, during the commissioning of the Niger State agro project, Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to resolving the persistent clashes between herders and farmers.
He urged governors to allocate land for herders to graze their cattle, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to address the issue.
Expressing empathy for the plight of farmers whose crops are destroyed by roaming cattle, Tinubu underscored the importance of reorienting herders and providing designated areas for cattle rearing to mitigate conflicts.
“I know what it means for roaming cows to eat crops and the vegetation of our land. I know it is painful. But when we re-orient the herder and make provision for cattle rearing, we can address that,” Mr Tinubu said.
He added, “You are the governors who are to provide us with land. I, as President, am committed to providing a comprehensive programme that will solve this problem.”
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Tinubu highlighted his commitment to implementing a comprehensive program aimed at resolving the conflict, emphasizing the role of governors in providing suitable land for grazing. He stated that he would spearhead efforts to tackle the problem effectively.
Notably, Tinubu’s stance comes in the context of previous opposition from Southern governors to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiatives to secure land for herders nationwide.
Southern governors, citing concerns over security threats posed by herders, had vehemently opposed such measures. Consequently, during Buhari’s tenure, many Southern states enacted anti-grazing laws to prohibit open grazing, reflecting the regional divide on the issue.
