Plateau state governor Simon Lalong yesterday said the state would soon implement the Ranching Policy in order to end clashes between farmers and herders in the state . Lalong made this known while speaking at a stakeholders meeting with All Progressive Congress APC members in Jos. Lalong who said he is deeply saddened by the barbaric attacks in the state recently, said the executive bill for implementing the Ranching policy is almost ready and would soon be sent to the state house of assembly. The governor also called on all Peace loving citizens to stand united in prayers and Security vigilance as this administration is determined to better the lives of citizens of the state as well as ensure that peace is restored to the state. Meanwhile Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress APC in Plateau state have endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as their candidate for the 2019 Presidential elections. Chairman of the APC in the state, Letep Dabang made this known while speaking with newsmen after a stakeholders meeting of the Party in Jos.

He said” we the APC members in Plateau state have unanimously adopted President Buhari as our candidates in the 2019 elections because he has done well. ” President Buhari has done well “We know that within the two years of this administration, the government has achieved a lot in the area of security. In transportation, we are talking about railways, in Agriculture and in diverse fields of our endeavours a lot has been achieved and a lot need to be done, the President Buhari led administration is committed to bringing succour to the common man,” he said. We call on the people of the state to continue to support him at all times.

The APC chairman also said stakeholders also commended Gov Simon Lalong for providing the dividends of democracy to the People of the state “The APC government in Plateau state is keeping to its campaign promises ,,Simon Lalong has brought relative stability to Plateau ,he is a leader with a good heart ,Lalong is the first Governor that is completing projects he inherited from his predecessor in the state .” Lalong has done well and is doing more to make Plateau greater ” Latep Dabang also said the party is prepared for the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the stakeholders meeting was well attended by party members from the seventeen local government are of the state.

ViewPointNigeria Analysis

It is incredibly commendable that the Governor, Rt Hon Barr. Simon Bako Lalong has upped-the-ante and is working to implement this policy which will technically criminalise free-range/open cattle grazing in Plateau.

This means Plateau follows the likes of Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states in making this an arrest-able offence and will go a long way to contain the indiscriminate killing of farmers under the guise of rustling or other petty excuses.

ViewPointNigeria will receive review and analyse the draft executive bill and shall report back accordingly. But so far informal information available from government sources suggests that in its reach and sphere, the bill is equivalent to those seen in other states. Albeit, the nomenclature is different.

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Lalong moves to implement cattle ranching policy that will end “free-range” grazing