Malami recommends creation of agency for herdsmen’s activities by FG

By our reporter| The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, recommended the creation of a Federal Government agency that will cater to the welfare and activities of herdsmen.

The AGF who made the recommendation while delivering his address as a special guest of honour at the Peace, Unity, and Security Lecture Series at the ECOWAS main auditorium, Abuja, agreed that the crisis between the herdsmen and farmers across the country had become a pressing issue and must be addressed.

Malami who also restated the commitment of the Federal Government in supporting initiatives and programmes that would help resolve the lingering farmer-herder crises in the country, said there was a need to revitalise the Nomadic Education Commission.

“Nigeria is predominately agricultural in nature and by geography. To that extent, there is constant mobility of herders across the different belts of Nigeria. It is perhaps time to consider the setting-up of a commission for pastoralism regulated by law, he said.

“This might provide recipes for resolving protracted farmer-herder conflicts. The commission may even engage in or facilitate in-depth analytical studies with a view to providing lasting solutions for the benefit of people and the country.”

“Revamping of the activities of the Nomadic Education Commission with a view to complementing the efforts of the government in resolving the farmer-herder clashes is needed,” he noted.

The AGF argued that some of the ways for a peaceful Nigeria include strict adherence to the rule of law, respecting the sanctity of the fundamental human rights in all ramifications, including freedom of movement and the right of citizens to stay at whatever part of the country they choose to and other provisions as contained in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remain fulcrum for a peaceful society.

He continued, “The better approach towards resolving the crisis over the short, medium and long terms is to directly involve the stakeholders in coming up with solutions at the conception, implementation and monitoring faces.”

He equally recommended the creation of regulated grazing reserves to replace the “Burtali” or “Hurumi” pastoral system.

According to him, there was also a need for the provision of infrastructure – social amenities, educational facilities, and cattle markets at central locations to accelerate nomadic settlements.