Amidst the rancour about grazing reserves which has trailed Governor Simon Lalong’s democracy day speech, Hon Dachung Musa Bagos the convener of Plateau Youth G17 Peace and Progressive Forum has advised traditional rulers in the state not to give up any portion of their lands for the purported “grazing reserves policy”. He advised Government to encourage nomadic herdsmen to adopt 21st century rearing methods by adopting commercial ranching methods – something the Federal Government has already said it would assists herdsmen with.

Bagos averred that cutting large swathes of lands for “Grazing Reserves” might have been feasible 60 years ago (when the population was still very low, around 60 million), but since the population of the country has risen steadily at an fast rate (170 million), but land resources have remained finite – such a policy will only exacerbate the conflicts on ground.

He also noted that nomadic herdsmen only make up a small percentage of the Nigerian population (around 2%), but that subsistent farmers make up over 70% – as such, a policy geared toward the paltry 2% at the expense of the majority will only go to foster a sense of injustice and neglect in the minds of farmers who need real assistance from Government.

Speaking on Governor Lalong’s call for Plateau people to key into the grazing reserves policy, Hon. Bagos expressed disappointment at the statements, saying “It is rather unfortunate that our governor, who knows firsthand how our people have been decimated by attacks linked to grazing will be advocating for cutting large portions of our lands for herdsmen who roam with AK47s. Surely the first step would be to dis-arm these herdsmen from their dangerous weapons and establishing their identities before anything”.

He expressed concern on the Government’s treatment of communities ravaged by attacks – saying several orphans, widows and families have been ravaged by these attacks without assistance from government -but the very people who have perpetuated these attacks are now being rewarded with Land ownership, CBN grants, World bank grants and other juicy entitlements. He challenged the government to live up to its responsibility of assisting internally displaced persons noting that the life of every Nigerian is important, not just that of a select few.

count | 563

Dachung Bagos urges traditional rulers not to give lands for grazing reserves