Nigeria loses N5.04trn annually due to herdsmen attacks - Official
- Nigeria loses about N5.04 trillion annually to the frequent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers
- The government said it has developed a plan to permanently solve the conflicts
The federal government has said that Nigeria loses about N5.04 trillion annually to the frequent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in different parts of the country.
The government, however, assured that it has developed a plan to permanently solve the farmers-herders’ conflicts which has claimed the lives of thousands over the years.
Key officials of the government stated this on Tuesday, June 19, when they held a media briefing on Nigeria's National Livestock Transformation Plan (2018–2027).
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Technical adviser to the National Economic Council (NEC), Andrew Kwasari, unveiled the plan on behalf of the government.
Legit.ng gathered that the plan is a multifaceted intervention that will modernize livestock management in Nigeria, and help achieve improved productivity and security.
“Nomadic livestock production in Nigeria is facing major crises and is at a crossroads due to declining availability of pasture, overgrazing, and most importantly, the recurrent and expanding fatal conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers.
“The impacts on food and nutrition security, as well as public safety and national security, are huge and far-reaching.
“This includes destruction of schools, homes, religious houses, primary health centres and community infrastructure, as well as tens of thousands of internally displaced persons.
“In addition to loss of human lives, it is estimated that Nigeria loses about $14 billion (N5.04 trillion) annually to herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts,” the government said..
At least hundreds of people have been killed in 2018 alone in violence involving nomadic herdsmen seeking water and pasture in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
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The event was attended by several top government functionaries, including the minister of agriculture and rural developnent, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the governor of Benue state, Dr. Samuel Ortom.
The technical adviser to the National Economic Council (NEC), Andrew Kwasari, said the federal government would create large ranches in 10 key states, which have been identified as the frontline states, to receive pilot interventions in line with the recommendations of the ministry and NEC livestock conference.
The states include: Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.
Kwasari also noted that these well-equipped ranches will gulp over N179 billion over a 10-year period, adding that both the federal and state governments would share the funding cost of about N70 billion meant for the first three years in the pilot phase.
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Legit.ng reported earlier that the federal government on Tuesday, June 19, presented a 6-point plan to end the growing crisis between herdsmen and farmers across Nigeria. The presentation of the new plan was made by Andrew Kwasari, in Abuja.
During the presentation, Kwasari showed that the plan stemmed from the meetings and recommendations by the federal of agriculture and rural development and NEC in 2017.
Benue Elders Speak on Herdsmen Attacks | Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
