Review of the 2018 appropriation bill submitted by Governor Lalong  to the Plateau House of Assembly indicates that the governor has kept true to his word, by making provisions for the establishment of ranches – as a means of ending attacks by herdsmen on Plateau Natives.

Governor Lalong had said while presenting the budget that the establishment and management of the ranches “will curb the activities of cattle owners and herdsmen or rearers, which is the major cause of crises in the state.”

The state government is however yet to give a breakdown of how much of the N6.3 billion budgeted to its agricultural sector will go into the establishment and management of the ranches.

Youths under the platform of Plateau Youths G17 Peace and Progressives Forum had last month submitted a bill to the state House of Assembly to legislate the banning of open grazing.

The bill had been condemned by the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN). The MACBAN chairman, Muhammadu Nura, had described the bill as posing a threat to herders. However Lalong had made it clear that the state government was working on an executive bill for the implementation of a ranching policy.

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Gov Lalong moves to solve Fulani menace, makes provision for ranches in 2018 Budget