BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Northern States Governors Forum has declared that the current system of herding conducted mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable in view of growing urbanization and population of the country.
This is as the governors condemned every form of criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally.
Consequently, the Forum resolved to aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to adapt new methods of herding by ranching or other acceptable modern methods.
The Forum which rose from an emergency virtual meeting on Monday, February 8, 2021, called on political leaders in the country to segregate between criminality and social groups in their domains with a view to treating criminals as criminals.
A communique signed by the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, signed by its Chairman, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, noted with concern the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in some parts of the country.
The Forum also expressed concern that the development is heating the already fragile security atmosphere with threats of reprisals which the Northern Governors are working assiduously to contain.
It therefore stressed the urgent need for the Nigerian Governors Forum to meet and discuss the issue wholistically with a view to resolving all areas of misunderstanding and conflicts arising from the threats and suspicion for the sake of national unity.
The Northern Governors’ Forum communique further states; “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.
“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-man Committee was put in place to be headed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum,” the Forum resolved.
It therefor called for restraint from leaders including those in the Southern parts of the country where passions are high.
The Forum also called on all the citizens of the north to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians irrespective of their origins and backgrounds.
Commenting on the security of the region and the nation, the Forum noted with concern the growing wave of insecurity in the country particularly as it relates to circulation of unverified video clips on social media portraying violent attacks on persons in some parts of the country.
The Forum’s virtual meeting which was chaired by its Chairman, Rt. Hon Lalong, congratulated the new Service Chiefs over their recent appointments and resolved to collaborate with them in enhancing the security of the region and the nation at large.
On its quest to acquire COVID-19 testing mobile vehicles, the Governors received briefing on the procurement of the vehicles which was still ongoing with the first batch about to be received.
