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Tag: Simon Lalong

  • Herdsmen /farmers violence: NEC to visit affected states for consultations

    Herdsmen /farmers violence: NEC to visit affected states for consultations

    The National Economic Council, NEC, on the Herdsmen /Farmers violence  has constituted a Sub-Committee to visit frontline States involved  in the conflict.

    They are to hold consultations with stakeholders and interested parties on how to end the conflicts.

    At the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday,  a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said that it was resolved that the Sub-Committee which has Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State as Chairman would visit Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and Adamawa States in order to understand the different dynamics of the conflict and develop long term workable solutions.

    Other members of the Sub-Committee are the Governors of Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and Adamawa States, while the committee would co-opt relevant experts and technical groups in the discharge of its assignment.

    The meeting at the Presidential Villa was attended by the Governors of Zamfara; Abdul’aziz Yari, Ebonyi; David Umahi, Kaduna; Nasir El-Rufai; Plateau, Simon Lalong, Adamawa; Bindo Umaru Jubrilla and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, and Benue States; Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo & Engr. Benson Abuonu. 

    The Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Interior Minister, General Abdulrahman Dambazau were also in attendance. 

    At its meeting last month, the National Economic Council decided to constitute a Working Group that will work in accordance with the President’s commitment to ensuring that all perpetrators of violence in the clashes between the herdsmen and farmers are brought to book and bring an end to the conflicts.

  • Lalong rejects cattle colonies

    Lalong rejects cattle colonies

    The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said on Friday the state would not be part of the planned cattle colonies.

    Lalong described as “false, malicious and highly mischievous,” reports in the social media that he had carved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of the state for the creation of cattle colonies.

    The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, who broke the news of the government’s decision, advised all peace-loving citizens of Plateau State to “discountenance such mischievous information” and gravitate towards issues of unity, rather than those that divide them.

    Manjang, in a statement in Jos, said: “The attention of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, has been drawn to the news making the rounds, particularly in the social media that parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs have been carved out for the creation of colonies for cattle, in fulfilment of his promises to the Fulani who have pressured him, to either cede those areas or he faces the other side of their viciousness which may cost his aspirations.

    “The Governor herein after state unequivocally that this thinking is not only the figment of the imagination of its authors, who want to make political capital out of it, but false, malicious and highly mischievous.

    “Governor Simon Bako Lalong does not contemplate such action and he further calls on all good citizens of Plateau to bury such imagination of these elements bent on throwing the state into confusion. Cattle colonies are not in the imagination of Governor Lalong.

    “Consequently, the Governor urges all peace loving citizens of Plateau State to discountenance such mischievous information but to gravitate towards issues that unite us rather than those that divide us.”

     

  • Joint venture cash call not remitted by NNPC for five years, says Yari

    Joint venture cash call not remitted by NNPC for five years, says Yari

    Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari, on Thursday reported the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to President Muhammadu Buhari for failure of the corporation to remit to the Federation Account the Joint Venture Cash Call for five years.

    Yari, briefed State House correspondents after closed-door meeting with President Buhari, involving six other governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He stressed that the country was shortchanged by NNPC for five years when the oil price was about $110 per barrel and as high as the Cash Call Joint Venture.

    On the purpose of the visit, Yari who was flanked by Governors Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State said: “The meeting is on the decision of NEC (National Economic Council) that the 7-man Committee was established to engage the NNPC and discuss a way forward so that we can be able to resolve the issue that is outstanding most especially on the remittances to the Federation Account.

    “Yesterday (Wednesday) the 7-Man Committee sat with the NNPC group and today (yesterday) we have come to brief the President. One of the things is about how they are paying the Joint Venture batch four and we have seen that what is being remitted to the Federation Account to the entire people of Nigeria is lower and what is being paid for the Cash Call Joint Venture is higher than what is going to the Federation Account.

    “So, we are concerned about that and NEC is concerned about that.  So they told the committee under my leadership to engage with the NNPC to discuss a way forward.” he added 

    On what was the response of the President, he said, “The entire federation is being shortchanged by those activities. The NNPC since 2010, there were no payments of Joint Venture Cash Call when the oil was $110 per barrel up to when the President took over in 2015. 

    “So why the Federation Account is always low is because they are paying dual, paying the existing and at the same time paying the arrears. 

    “So we sat down with them to fine-tune how best we are going to get our partners to understand where we are more especially now the oil has started picking and the price is becoming moderately good and then we are slightly out of recession and we want to sustain that tempo.”

    Others that attended the meeting with the President included governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (PDP), Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State (PDP), Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State (APC) and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State (APC).

  • Buhari, governors meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, governors meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with some state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting which started at about 2:00 p.m. has six governors in attendance.

    Those at the meeting were – Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Aminu Masari (Katsina).

    Others were – Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Herdsmen killings: Lalong quoted out of context – Group

    Herdsmen killings: Lalong quoted out of context – Group

    The Plateau Regeneration Group said on Friday that the state Governor, Simon Lalong, was quoted out of context on his comments over the killings in Benue.

    The spokesperson for the group, Mr. Badung Chuhwak, told journalists in Jos that Lalong did not mean to cause more pains for people of Benue State.

    Lalong, during an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja had said he warned Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue against implementing the Anti Open Grazing Law.

    The group, however, claimed that Lalong was only speaking about the alternatives to open grazing.

    It described Lalong as an advocate of ranching who is ready to support any initiative by the Federal Government to end herders/farmers clashes including the establishment of cattle colonies.

    The group apologized to the government and people of Benue State for the misrepresentation of the governor in the media.

    Similarly, Lalong’s media team had issued a statement to clarify the governor’s comments.

    The statement which was signed by the Director of Press to the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, said Lalong would always show solidarity with his Benue counterpart.

    “The governor has expressed his deepest sympathy in a phone conversation with Governor Ortom.

    “He gave assurances of the prayers of the people of Plateau for God’s comfort to the bereaved families, and for the repose of the souls of all those killed in the wake of the attack,” it said.

  • I cautioned Ortom on anti-grazing law – Lalong

    I cautioned Ortom on anti-grazing law – Lalong

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said on Thursday he cautioned his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, on the anti-open grazing bill when the idea was mooted last year.

    He said Ortom should have first explored the ranching system and make adjustments where necessary, rather than making laws to isolate some section of the society.

    With implementation of the law, over 70 persons have been killed this year by Fulani herdsmen.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lalong said one of the things that sustained peace in Plateau State was his wide consultation with the people on the ranching policy.

    He said majority of Plateau citizens have bought into the idea and have voluntarily donated free lands for the pilot scheme to take off.

    He said: “At the end of last year something happened but I’m not saying it was between herdsmen and farmers, it was as result of criminal activities and so we focused on fishing out those criminals. Most of the crisis that happened was not on the farm, it was just pockets of Christians and Muslims killing one another and so we addressed those issues, we are handling it.

    “Let me also say that plateau was one of those that embraced ranching. I had a lot of opposition initially when I said Plateau was keying into ranching. Some states said they don’t have land but I said whether I have land or not we have to provide land for ranching because that I see as solution to the conflicts. In Plateau we have gone far, we have donated land voluntarily, many people donated land for ranching.

    “Last year, I sent a team of 12 to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, they spent almost a week there to study and the team was headed by former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Onazi. We went round all the communities in Plateau, it took three months and Plateau people including the Fulanis accepted that we must embrace ranching.

    “Ranching as a concept is a policy and there are states realizing the importance of the policy. I cannot wake up like some people said last year that I should go and do anti-grazing law. And I asked anti-grazing law for what? We are talking about ranching, we are talking about development of livestock business and I cannot use the word anti to start driving away people who are interested. It is for those who are interested to come and get involved in it.

    “Secondly, I can’t implement anti-grazing law. There are levels of implementation which will require government intervention, provision of ranchers and thirdly, when you are talking of ranching it is a component of agriculture business you will also require subsidy. Subsidy must come from federal and state governments and by the time we develop it and put every structure on ground, then we can bring laws to regulate the implementation. So I don’t want to jump one step before the other.”

    When asked why he did not advise Ortom about this, he said: “To be honest with you I did. I told the governor of Benue when he was doing the law, I said look, why don’t you tread softly, just be careful, take other steps before you start implementation.

    “But you see states are different, his concepts are different and for us on the Plateau they are different. I said I will not do the law before implementation. I have not developed the ranching areas so I cannot go and say I put a law, to stop who? If I stop the people what is the alternative?

    “So I said do consultations allow the people to understand and buy into the concepts.”

     

  • FG gives reason for proposing cattle colonies

    FG gives reason for proposing cattle colonies

    The Federal Government has explained the reason for its planned establishment of cattle colonies, saying it is a measure to quickly curb the incessant bloody clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this when Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau visited him in Abuja.

    Mr Tolu Makinde, the Director, Information, said this on Thursday in a statement by Mrs Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa.

    The minister noted that the policy would not transfer communal land ownership to herdsmen wherever it was established.

    Ogbeh was reacting to fears by some citizens that the policy was an attempt by the Federal Government to forcibly collect land from citizens and hand them over to herdsmen.

    He noted that there was no truth in speculations that the government was conspiring to grant supremacy over communal land to herdsmen.

    The minister commended the Plateau Government for its interests in developing agriculture.

    “Cattle colony is not using herdsmen to colonise any state. It is going to be done in partnership with state governments that will like to volunteer land for it.

    “The Federal Government will fund the project and those wishing to benefit from it will pay some fees.

    “While ranching is more of an individual venture for the herdsmen and those wishing to invest in the livestock sector, cattle colonies is a larger project where up to 40 ranchers can share same facility that will be provided by the government at a reduced rate.

    “Already, 16 states have volunteered land,’’ he said.

    Read also: 16 governors offer five hectares each for cattle colonies

    The minister said the Federal Government would soon hold a stakeholders’ forum with the herdsmen and other stakeholders on the implementation of the new policy.

    Earlier, Lalong said that he was at the ministry to understand the new policy.

    He said that the state would key into the policy to maintain peace in the state.

    “I happen to be one of the persons that keyed into the ranching policy when it was introduced.

    ‘‘We saw some lands in Plateau and we provided them for the implementation of the policy.

    “The introduction of this policy is of interest to us, that is why we are always here.

    “We also heard about the introduction of another one, that is the cattle colony and I said let me still come back again. We will also key into this policy,’’ he said.

    Recall that Ogbeh had on January 8, disclosed the Federal Government’s plan to establish cattle colonies in the country.

    NAN

  • Lalong presents N145.4 bn budget for 2018

    Lalong presents N145.4 bn budget for 2018

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has presented the 2018 Appropriation Bill of over N145.4 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.

    The governor presented the bill tagged “Budget of Rescue and Consolidation” to the house on Thursday in Jos.

    According to him, “the budget seeks to consolidate on the gains and achievements of the administration since inception of the rescue mission in 2015’’.

    Lalong said the budget was made up of N69.6 billion capital and N75.8 billion recurrent expenditure.

    “The budget has a total size of N145. 4 billion; N75. 8 billion which represents 52.13 per cent of the budget is for recurrent expenditure while N69.6 billion, representing 48.87 per cent is for capital expenditure.

    “As part of our rescue mission, we shall continue to accord priority to the welfare of civil servants through timely promotions and payment of salaries and allowances, pension and gratuities of our retirees and the release of running cost for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “Mr Speaker, with your timely scrutiny and passage of this budget, the confidence to consolidate on what we have started will be further strengthened,” he said,

    The Speaker, Mr Peter Azi, assured that the house would expeditiously process, scrutinise and pass the appropriation bill.

    Azi said that the 8th Assembly in the state had put in place stringent mechanism that would checkmate loopholes and mismanagement of budgets my MDAs.

    “It is our collective resolve as members of the house in line with the administration’s determination for effective service delivery to the people, to expeditiously pass this budget into law.”

    NAN

  • Lalong commends NYSC skills acquisition programme

    Lalong commends NYSC skills acquisition programme

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has commended the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) skills acquisition programme for corps members.

    Lalong gave the commendation on Thursday in Mangu at the inauguration of the 2017, Batch “B” stream one.

    He was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden.

    The governor said that the programme would help the beneficiaries to acquire additional practical knowledge and skills that would make them to be more productive and useful to the society in future.

    The governor urged the beneficiaries to pay attention to the programme.

    “The scheme runs a skills acquisition programme during the three weeks orientation which I believe you will find useful in future, please, take it seriously,” Lalong said‎.

    Lalong drew the corps members’ attention to the growing unemployment rate and described the development as a major problem facing Nigerian youths.

    “Millions of youths are out there searching for non-existing white-collar jobs. Those of you with alternative skills will not join that search because you would have prepared yourselves for self-employment.

    “The initiative of the programme is make you self-reliant at the end of the service of your year.”

    He also advised the corps members to visit micro/small ‎enterprises clinic for more knowledge on small business registration and access to soft loans.

    ‎The governor assured the corps members of their safety in Plateau.

    In her remarks, Plateau NYSC Coordinator, Fumilayo Akin-Moses, advised corps members to participate fully in camp activities to prepare them for the service year.

    Akin-Moses also urged them to participate in the various skills acquisition programmes to prepare them for life after the service year.

    2,886, corps members, comprising 1,407 males and 1,479 females were registered as at the close of the exercise on Wednesday.

    NAN

  • 2019 Presidency: ‘No better person to challenge Buhari’

    2019 Presidency: ‘No better person to challenge Buhari’

    Some Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weights behind President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election for a second term in office, saying there is no candidate better than the President to fly the party flag in the 2019 Presidential election.

    Speaking in separate interviews with reporters before the commencement of the National Executive Committee meeting of the part in Abuja, the governors said that the belief that President Buhari’s integrity, couple with his performance since 2015 remain unbeatable.

    Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong said that all the governors have agreed to work for the President’s re-election.

    “Concerning the issue of a sole ticket for Mr President, I want to say that if Mr President is performing, well respected and carrying everybody along, all of us have resolved that we will work for him.

    “Do we have any other person that will challenge the President again? Whatever you call it, as far as we are concerned, we have one President and that is the ticket we will fly.

    “I want to assure you that you won’t see a wrangling party after the meeting. From now onwards, it will be a focused governance from Mr President and all the governors from the states. We have all resolved to support Mr President.”

    Also speaking, Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, “For anybody to preempt the consensus opinion of the people is to say the least, not fair to the vision of our party. I can tell you that if there is anything that is clandestine, the President will not honour it, so let wait and see as we embark on these meetings.

    “I believe the consensus and the preponderance of opinion of all party members will be what is good for this country, and we have already known the will of this country, the future of this country as we are now as a country is associated with one person, who is impeccable, who has the greatest amount of integrity that you can find in any human being around, so your guest is as good as mine.”

    Also speaking, Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu said: “the performance of the President in the last two and half years suggest that if he wants to contest, l will certainly support him and l know that our party members feel the same about him.”

    Imo state governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum said he will only sacrifice his presidential ambition to support the President if he is interested in seeking a second term in office.

    He said: “If Mr president wants to run for election, he will follow all the processes and if he is the person, we will all support him. In APC, there is no imposition of a candidate. If Buhari is running, I will allow that man to continue but if he is not running, I won’t sacrifice my Presidential ambition.

    “Mr President is showing the right leadership and taking the very right steps and there is reconciliation going on even with nobody talking about it. There is the spirit of reconciliation and people understand their role.

    “Our role is to make this party great and we are all trying to do that input own form but importantly the governor have remained the pivot upon which this wheels of change has rotated so far, we have kept this party working and after this meeting our congresses and convention will commence in the early part of next year and all party organs will be strengthened. We are in good mood and high spirits.”