The Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria(GAFDAN) has Called on the federal government to Open all cattle markets closed in the country effect,following the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country with immediate.

This call was made in a Press Statement Signed by the National Chairman Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria(GAFDAN) Sale Bayari after its emergency meeting held in Jos Wednesday were it said the Call became necessary due to the pathetic economic situation of the herdsmen who have no other means of livelihood or income except by taking their animals to the markets when the need arises as they do not have money in the banks nor do they sell the cattle to keep the money at home due to fear of armed bandits.

Hunger and diseases are already ravishing our members’ families and communities in almost all the states that have closed all the cattle markets across the country.

We have observed that our members are not benefiting from the Federal Government palliative measures through the Special Intervention Programme as they haven’t been captured in the “trada moni, Farmer moni, Market moni”etc.

He Said GAFDAN as a body wonder how the federal government will allow the cattle markets to be closed while leaving other markets and shops that sell food items open.

The essence of leaving food shops and markets open should have been to allow Nigerians feed themselves during the lockdown. How could they feed themselves without protein?

According to him, the government was misled or misunderstood as it couldn’t have ordered the closure of such an important component of the Nigerian food item, which is meat especially beef protein. All providers of protein form part and parcel of the food chain and the closure of its sources(cattle markets) must have been done in error.

He said GAFDAN, hereby calls for the immediate correction of this mistake by the federal and State governments to order the cattle markets open to allow our members meet their basic necessity of life.

The Association hereby calls on its members to continue to observe the the full social distancing directive of the government in the cattle markets by handing over their cows to the dealers while they stay away until the animals are sold and they are called upon to collect their money, without causing any congestion and government should also provide all the necessary sanitary equipment as directed by the government.

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COVID-19: Fulani Leaders Calls on federal Government to Reopen All Cattle Markets Across the Country