Governors of the South-West have agreed to ban all forms of open and night grazing across states within the region.
The development may be a tacit endorsement of ultimatum by the Ondo state government to herders occupying the forest serves illegally to vacate
This resolve was reached on Monday at a meeting between governors from the South-West region and the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN).
Rising from the meeting, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi said it was resolved at the meeting that night grazing should be banned henceforth
Fayemi further disclosed that the forum also decided that under age herding is inimical to security and hence should be banned.
According to a communique read by the Ekiti State governor, it was also agreed that occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally will not be condoned.
The meeting between the governors and MACBAN leaders became imperative following the executive order of the governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotim Akeredolu to the Fulani Herdsmen illegally occupying the State Forest Reserves to vacate within seven days With effect from Monday 18″ January 2021.
According to the communique read by Dr. Fayemi at the end of the meeting in Akure, it was agreed that the order of the Ondo Governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media.
Fayemi stressed that no one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.
Below is the full resolve reached in the meeting between members of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum and leaders of MACBAN.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNORS’ FORUM WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF MIYETTI-ALLAH CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (MACBAN) AND THE HEADS OF SECURITY AGENCIES ON EMERGING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE SOUTH-WEST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE
HELD AT THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURE AND EVENT CENTRE (DOME), AKURE, ONDO STATE ON MONDAY, 25TH JANUARY, 2021.
Following the Executive Order of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwaratim Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, to the Fulani Herdsmen illegaly occupying the State Forest Reserves to vacate within seven days With effect from Monday 18″ January, 2021, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by its Chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi met with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), security agencies and other stakeholders on 25th January, 2021 at the International Centre for Culture and Events (DOME), Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State to find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country.
Meeting discussed vigorously and resolved that:
The security and welfare of the people of Nigeria is the primary purpose of Government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of N igeria as amended.
The stakeholders are committed to the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.
Insecurity is a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region but must be addressed by the cooperation of all.
The order of the Ondo State Governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the Forest Reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.
Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status.
Security agencies have been trying to stem the tide of criminality in the country but must step up their efforts in the fight.
There is the need to build partnership for peace and security with MACBAN and jointly wage war against criminality.
No one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.
MACBAN is a peace loving, law abiding organization which does not habour or condone criminals and agreed that:
(i) Night grazing should be banned henceforth
(ii) Under age herding is Inimical to security and hence be banned
(iii) Occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally is condemned.
MACBAN also suffers insecurity and kidnapping and thus desire peaceful coexistence.
MACBAN is ready for any peaceful move by the states to engender security.
Fake news is another issue that makes our security worse than solving it.
There must be an enduring framework with MACBAN in a way that will help address security issues.
That free-range grazing must be stopped to avoid conflicts between the farmers and the herders
Strengthening alternative security arrangements and make them complementary to the mainstream security agencies in Nigeria.
MACBAN should embrace and be committed to modern breeding process by creating grazing reserves and practice ranching to prevent cattle roaming about.
Standing Committee comprising of farmers, MACBAN, and the Government should be set up in each state (where they don’t exist) to ensure synergy and result.
We must create economic opportunities for our people and reduce opportunities for criminalities in our country.
