The Kebbi State Government has resolved to create a permanent settlement for Fulani cattle breeders and with the necessary basic amenities for them and their animals.

A statement signed by Abubakar Muazu Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the governor gave the assurance while welcoming the first batch of Fulani cattle farmers from a sensitisation workshop on modern dairy production in Oyo State.

The governor, through the statement, pledged to provide abundant water and animal feeds in permanent settlements to be created across the Fulani concentrated areas in the state.

He further directed the leadership of the Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to ensure that all Fulani resident in the state are captured in the ongoing registration exercise to enable the government to provide them the necessary support and financial assistance.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Usman Umar Dakingari, told the governor that the Fulani community in the state would ever remain grateful to his administration for uplifting their standard of living.

He added that the recent visit by the state team of cattle breeders to Oyo state where they attended a workshop organised by Friesland Campina Company on modern dairy production boosted the farmers’ morale and taught them how to improve the quality of cow milk production locally.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, has urged the Federal Government to formulate a national policy that would make ranching compulsory for cattle rearing.

He made the call when he received members of Plateau Youth G-17, Peace and Progress who were in his office to understudy the State Open-Grazing Prohibition Law with a view to replicating it in Plateau State.

He noted that time has come for the Federal Government to openly adopt ranching as the only method of rearing livestock in line with global best practices, adding that ranching had proved to be the best way of ensuring peaceful coexistence between livestock and crop farmers.

Ikyange said the Benue State House of Assembly was ready to share its experience on the passage of the open-grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law with any state legislature that wishes to domesticate it.

He disclosed that some speakers of State Houses of Assemblies have indicated interest in enacting similar legislation in their various states to tackle the frequent crisis between farmers and herdsmen.

Leader of the delegation, Danja-Yaks Gyang, said the visit was to congratulate the Assembly and government on the successful passage and implementation of the law with a view to studying it for onward proposal to the Plateau Assembly for consideration and passage.

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Kebbi Govt moves to end open cattle grazing, creates settlement areas for Fulani herdsmen