Fed Govt shelves Ruga policy

The controversial proposal for the establishment of Ruga settlements has been suspended, the Presidency announced yesterday.

The proposal, which was aimed at resolving farmers/herders clashes, had drawn condemnation from notable Nigerians, including governors, elder statesmen, regional groups and concerned individuals.

Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka warned that the proposal, if not properly managed, could set Nigeria on fire.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi said: “We the NEC committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Vice President met today to deliberate on the approved programme of National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Government, tagged: ‘National Livestock Transformation Programme.’

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“We are aware that today that Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan which has programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the Federation. The word is willing state of the federation.

“The National Livestock Transformation plan; its beauty is that what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who may like to participate.

“So, it is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, to key into the programme.

“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis. That’s the decision of this committee.”

Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Adamawa State Deputy Governor Martins Nasir were at the meeting.