Plateau Governor Describes Anti Grazing Law In Some States As Anti-People

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has described anti grazing law being enforced by some state governors as anti people.
Governor Lalong made it clear that there are levels of implementation which will require government intervention, provision of ranchers and so on.
“I can’t implement anti-grazing law. I cannot wake up like some people said last year that I should go and do anti-grazing Law. And I asked anti-grazing law for what?
“We are talking about ranching, we are talking about development of livestock business and I cannot use the word anti to start driving people who are interested. It is for those who are interested to come and get involve in it.”
The Plateau governor, who fielded questions from news men today, Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, his state was one of those that embraced ranching.
“I had a lot of opposition initially when I said Plateau was keying into ranching. Some states said they don’t have land but I said whether I have land or not we have to provide land for ranching because that I see as solution to the (farmers/herdsmen) conflicts.
“In Plateau we have gone far. We have donated land voluntarily, many people donated land for ranching.
“Last year, I sent a 12 team to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. They spent almost a week there to study and the team was headed by former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Professor Onazi. We went round all the communities in Plateau, it took three months and Plateau people including the Fulanis accepted that we must embrace ranching.
Ranching as a concept is a policy and there are states realizing the importance of the policy.”
“When you are talking of ranching, it is a component of agriculture business; you will also require subsidy. Subsidy must come from federal and state governments and by the time we develop it and put every structure on ground, then we can bring laws to regulate the implementation. So I don’t want to jump one step before the other.”
Governor Lalong narrated how he told the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom not to do the law on anti grazing.
“I said (to him), look, why don’t you tread softly; just be careful, take other steps before you start implementation.
“But you see, states are different. His own concepts are different and for us on the Plateau is different. I said I will not do the law before implementation. I have not developed the ranching areas so I cannot go and say I put a law, to stop who? If I stop the people what is the alternative.
“So I said do consultations, allow the people to understand and buy into the concepts.”
On the difference between ranching and colony, Lalong said that after enquiries and study, he discovered that one is bigger than the other.
“For me, anytime I hear anything about agriculture I don’t jump into conclusions. I go and study it. Yesterday (Wednesday), I was at the federal ministry of agriculture with my agricultural team: commissioner and others. We spent almost five hours because I said they must convince me and explain to me what colony is. So that when I go back just like I did with ranching, I will go and tell my people that this is the concept. When I had the briefing with them I was convinced about colony.
“They said the difference between colony and ranches is that one is bigger than the other. You get a very big field, you get investors, demacate the area. Somebody will ranch bees, somebody will ranch goats, somebody will ranch cattle but government will develop the place, put grasses, water and anybody who is coming in must pay. And you cannot go and force any land, it is voluntary land that government has.
“For me, in Plateau, we have two large areas already. That is the concept.
The governor said that ranching is not for only Fulani herdsmen, adding that it is everybody’s business.
According to him, many youths, thousands of graduates have registered, ready to go into that business.
“It is everybody’s business. We must help the federal government to find ways of addressing issues because agriculture is not just agriculture now. It is now a means of diversification. And if you have to diversify, it is serious business for everyone. It is not for a tribe.
“So I said if we have to encourage people to go into ranching I will not use the word anti.”[myad]