Gov Al-Makura orders encroachers on dedicated areas to vacate for grazing reserves
In a bid to stem the incessant farmers and herdsmen crises in Nasarawa State, Governor Tanko Al-Makura has ordered all the encroachers on dedicated areas to vacate the place for grazing reserves.
Governor Al-Makura gave the directives while addressing journalists after receiving in audience the Presidential Sub-Committee on Herdsmen and Farmers Conflict, led by its Chairman and Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, in Lafia.
Al-Makura said, “What is very important to resolve the lingering conflict was the issue of land that is there for grazing. We in Nasarawa State foresaw this problem. We have started taking stock of history and data of our grazing reserves to find out those who have encroached upon them to move out to create more opportunities for farming and grazing.”
The governor further stated that the evacuation of encroachers from the grazing reserves which the state government was doing is to ensure that all the gazetted grazing reserves that are dedicated for herdsmen are available for the purpose.
He said, “Even if it is government agency that has built any structure, they must move out. People that have occupied them; whether they are communities, farmers, companies, they must vacate the areas for their original use as grazing reserves.
Governor Al-Makura also noted that the state has about seven grazing reserves measuring about 1,000 kilometres scattered across the state.
He added that one of the ways to resolve the farmers/herdsmen crises in the country was to ensure that all the grazing reserves that have been earmarked for grazing should be dedicated to the herders.
