By Dapo Akinrefon

AN attempt to resolve the face-off between farmers and Fulani herdsmen seems to be underway. To analysts, the move is seen as a step in the right direction.

The move considered a deft one will address the Fulani herdsmen not only in the country but in the South West. Before now, the nefarious activities of the Fulani herdsmen have been frowned at by all and sundry.

There have been arguments for and against the setting up of grazing areas for the cattle rearers, which aims to restrict the movement of Fulani herdsmen in some geo political zone, particularly the South West.

Aside, suggestions has been thrown up on ways at preventing further confrontation with farmers, a step the Federal Government is yet to take.

Solution in sight?

Rep Karimi Sunday: Sponsor of the bill

Perhaps against the resistance, this informed the proposed bill for the establishment of national grazing routes and reserves for the Fulani herdsmen.

The essence of this Bill is to establish National Grazing Routes and Reserve Bill which shall acquire lands in all the 36 states of the Federation for the purpose of grazing and ranching.

This is to curb incessant conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and livestock farmers and settlers in Nigeria. The central objective is to foster national cohesion and eliminate intra-state conflicts.

The bill, when enacted into law, will be known as the National Grazing Route and Reserve Commission.

Its functions: When enacted in law, the commission is expected to establish cattle routes, farm camp and grazing reserves in different parts of the country.

The grazing commission, is expected to manage, control and maintain the cattle routes and grazing reserves and farm camps, while at the same time, prescribe those who may use the grazing reserve and the number and type of stocks that may be permitted therein.

Also, the commission will prescribe the parts of the grazing reserve and route which may be used and the times when they may be used.

Its major function will be to foster peace in the grazing routes and reserves and at the same time, improve land use and land management.

Notwithstanding this, the Commission’s central objective is to encourage ranching as an alternative to grazing livestock as such the grazing areas shall crystallize or may be used as ranches as Nigeria develops.

Grazing routes

As a means of dissuading an abuse of the grazing routes, the bill proposed that no person, other than a government officer on duty shall enter any grazing route or reserve unless he is authorised to do so by this law or regulations.

Also, no person shall alienate any right affecting land included in the Government Grazing Route and Reserve, which has been established in accordance with this Act, by sale,transfer, mortgage without the consent of the Commission first had and obtained.

Furthermore, the bill proposes that if any right within a government grazing route or reserve is not exercised for a period of 10 years, it shall be deemed to have been extinguished.

Again, the sponsor propounds that where a land has been marked a government grazing route or reserve, the Commission may be subject to the consent of the Minister, close any right of way or watercourse where he is of the opinion that there   already exists an equally convenient right of way or watercourse.

Procedure for acquiring grazing routes: Reeling out the procedure for acquiring grazing routes, the bill proposes that the Commission, saddled with the responsibility of the route, shall undertake a physical/geographical analysis of the land use in each of the states in order to ascertain the best and most appropriate place to locate the Federal Government Reserve and Route within the said state.

In addition, after having undertaken the analysis of the Grazing Reserves and Routes, the commission will approach each state governor, with the co-operation of the member of the Commission from that state, to negotiate with the Governor to transfer the land to the Commission for the purpose of grazing routes and reserve.

Whenever land has been transferred by the governor to the Commission for use as grazing routes and reserve, the governor is expected to set forth the limits of the land which constitute the Reserve.

Limits of the land

The commission will also ensure that the land has been transferred to the Commission for the purpose of grazing route and reserves.

Wherever any land has been transferred to the Commission by the Governor, the Commission shall pay the compensation necessary to the persons, communities whose interest in the land has been affected by such transfer.

The bill also proposes that once the governor of each of the state or any of the states agree to reserve or transfer any land to the Commission for the purpose of grazing routes or reserves, a notice shall be published in the Nigerian Official Gazette  specifying as clearly as possible the situation and the limits of the land. The Commission shall cause the particulars of the land reserved as grazing route and reserve in each state to be made known in the communities in which the land is situated by causing a notice thereof to be read and interpreted in the local vernacular language of the community and also cause a notice to be written to the communities or persons residing or claiming interest on such lands.

Aside this, the bill proposes that the Commission will be empowered to make a comprehensive list and description of all lands that had been reserved as Federal Government Grazing Routes and Reserve in all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. From time to time, the commission is expected to determine the eligibility of persons who shall be allowed to enter the grazing routes and reserves.

While the Commission will provide the necessary infrastructure for decent livelihood in the grazing routes and reserves, the bill proposed to restrict entrance to the grazing routes and reserves unless expressly authorized by the commission.

Also, it propounds that it will be unlawful for any pastoralist to graze livestock outside the Routes and Reserves, except where expressly authorized by the Commission and such authorization shall be as a result of exceptional circumstances.

CAN kicks against move

Fulani-herdsman

Perhaps sensing the possibility of the grave danger to the nation’s peace and security, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,   warned that the establishment of grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen in all parts of the country.

The General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja stressed that the implementation of the ongoing national discussion over the establishment of grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen portends grave danger to national peace and security.

CAN opined that such idea of acquiring parcels of land in the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory for the sole purpose of providing grazing area for the nomads and their herds of cattle should be “dropped in the overall interest of national security,”

The CAN scribe painted a gloomy picture if such an idea is accepted hook, line and sinker.

He said “they have been associated with violent deaths, lethal injuries, kidnap cases, rape cases and destruction of properties and food crops in their host communities. They have transformed from herdsmen to mercenaries and armed bandits. They have converted the farmlands of their host communities into slaughter farms. This is unacceptable and should be a cause of great concern to the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians.

“As a way forward, we suggest that the Federal Government should encourage the state governments where these herdsmen are predominant to establish modern ranches for them, rather than allowing them to cause problem in other parts of the country.

Ranches for nomads

“Establishing modern ranches for nomads is a worldwide standard best practice and this will be of immense benefit to the herdsmen and their families. The ranches will have schools, hospitals and other social amenities. The meat and other products from these ranches will be exported to other parts of the country, thus creating lucrative business and employment for the citizenry.”

While the idea of setting up grazing reserves and carving out routes for Fulani nomads and their cattle has for some time been a contentious issue, only time will tell whether legislation will bring an end to the incessant imbroglio.