The Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has apologized to Governor Samuel Ortom, over wanton killings of citizens by herdsmen attscks in the state.
National Secretary of the association, Engr. Saleh Alhassan, who spoke today in Makurdi during a peace initiative brokered by the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama, said it is regrettable what happened in Benue. The leader of the herdsmen pledged to ensure peaceful coexistence between his people and farmers in the state.
He described Governor Ortom as a peace-loving man who stood firmly for the emancipation of his people. He said members of the group would embrace the peace initiatives put forward by the Governor.
In Response, Governor Ortom said the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law by Benue State Government was to end the killing of innocent people and encourage ranching as the global best practice of animal husbandry.
He also made it clear that any person or ethnic group wishing to rear livestock in the state is free to acquire land and ranch his animals according to the provision of the ranching law of the state.
The Governor noted that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law protects both farmers and livestock owners, adding that legislation was not meant to promote crisis of any kind.
Chief Onyeama had earlier emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in Benue State, saying he personally brought Alhaji Saleh to broker peace between Miyetti Allah groups and the people of the state.
Flash Back:July 2019.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had announced a new policy to end importstion of milk into the country just as it assured that the bank was ready to provide loans for those who want to go into the Cattle business.
The Governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had said that the nation could no longer continue to spend between $1.2-$1.5 billion on milk importation, annually.
According to him, the nation had the capacity to produce its milk requirements and that CBN was ready to give loans to those interested in ranching and other businesses in the livestock value chain.
On milk importation, Emefiele said: “We believe milk is one of the products that can be produced in Nigeria today.
“We have seen the importation of milk into Nigeria before many of us were born, precisely over sixty years.
“West African Milk and Friesland milk, the foremost milk has been doing it for over sixty years.
“They have been importing milk into Nigeria for over sixty years. For over sixty years, Nigeria has been importing milk, the import of milk annually stands at between $1.2 to $1.5 billion.
“That is a very high import product into the country, given that it’s a product that we are convinced can be produced in the country. Cows produce little milk due to roaming.
“Let’s ask ourselves the question: What really does it take to produce milk? Get the cow and give the cow plenty of water to drink and let the cow eat a lot of grass and the cow positioned in a place without roaming about, that cow gets fat and you can take milk out of it.
“The reason some say our cows are not producing much milk is because our cows roam about. They don’t have water to drink. Under the pastoral arrangement, you find out that during raining season you find out that, they are somewhere. When the rain recedes, and dry and hot seasons come, they begin to move from where they were.
“As they move just like they are cows, they are not human beings, they consumed wherever they find on their way. And unfortunately in that process, they create destruction to farm products and farm produce in the country.”
The CBN boss assured that the bank was ready to provide loans for those who want to go into cattle business.
He said: “By the time we restrict you, if you need loan to acquire land we’ll give you. If you need a loan to grow your grass, we will give you.
To produce water, we will give you loan. But that you will continue to import milk in to the country, I think we are getting to the end of road.
(C) Control TV 2019.
