Falana: Buhari shouldn’t be looking for reserves in 2021 — open grazing is obsolete

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says President Muhammadu Buhari should not be looking for grazing reserves in 2021.

Last week, the president approved the review of 368 grazing reserves across 25 states in the country.

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said Buhari’s decision was informed by the recommendation of a committee chaired by Ibrahim Gambari, his chief of staff.

This is despite the federal government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) which provides for ranching of livestock to address the farmer-herder crisis.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, on Sunday, Falana wondered why the president would take the decision when all stakeholders have agreed that open grazing is obsolete.

“With profound respect, the point has to be made that we need a united action; we need a national resolution, we need a scientific solution to this problem,” the lawyer said.

“As far as the law is concerned, the president cannot, with profound respect, be talking of looking for grazing routes in 2021 Nigeria.

”The Northern Governors’ Forum, the Southern Governors’ Forum, even Miyyeti Allah and other relevant stakeholders have come to the conclusion that open grazing is obsolete and no longer relevant.

“In this particular instance, apart from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the land in every state in Nigeria is vested with the governor on behalf of the people. The president cannot impose any land policy on the state governors.

“Under the Land Use Act, the president has no control over and outside the FCT, and I think that point has to be made very clear.

“As far back as 2018, the federal government came up with a policy called the National Livestock Transformation Plan, including ranching. This policy was adopted by the 36 governors.”