Northern govs: Open grazing no longer sustainable

The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) says open grazing of cattle is “no longer sustainable” in the country.

According to a communiqué released on Tuesday, the governors stated this during an emergency meeting to discuss issues affecting the region.

Simon Lalong, chairman of the forum, said the governors expressed concern over the tension generated by the eviction order that was issued to herders in some parts of the nation.

They noted that the situation was “heating up the already fragile security atmosphere with threats of reprisals”, which the governors are “working assiduously to contain”.

As a way forward, the governors resolved to sensitise the herders on the need to approach modern methods of taking care of their cattle.

They also appealed to the federal government to support the states with grants to facilitate pilot projects on modern livestock production.

“Consequently, Forum resolved to aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to adopt new methods of herding by ranching or other acceptable modern methods,” the communique reads in part.

“It appeals to the Federal Government to support States with grants to directly undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production that will serve as springboard and evidence for breaking resistance to the full implementation of new methods of livestock production.

“Forum resolved to engage elders and youths in a robust discussion with a view to dousing the tensed security environment in the north. Accordingly, a four-person committee was put in place to be headed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.”

The northern governors also called for restraint from leaders, including “those in the southern parts of the country where passion is high”, and urged “all the citizens of the north to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians, irrespective of their origins and backgrounds”.