S’East, S’South, S’West lack free massive lands for ranching as FG plans 94 ranches
Just as the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has approved a 10-year National Livestock Plan (NLP) which will cost about N179 billion for the development of 94 ranches in 10 states, feelers from leaders in South East, South-South and South West have made it clear that there is no free land for the project.
A development economist, Dr. Ken Igboanugo, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said “Ranches are better located in naturally table lands that are expansive so that cows can move freely. The entire southern part of Nigeria currently does not possess such large expanse of lands.
“However, what the federal government can do is to reactivate all the abandoned ranches within the region, rather than going for new acquisition which may not be welcomed by communities based on the violent nature of the herders as being demonstrated in recent times without end in sight.
Igboanugo further observed that “Government can revive Obudu Cattle Ranch and so many others, but as for new acquisitions, I don’t think it will work”.
Though all the 36 state governors are members of the NEC and were represented at the latest NEC meeting in Abuja, several indigenes from the regions who spoke with our correspondents rejected the deal, saying ranches are better done in areas with massive expanse of land and not in areas where land is scarce.
Details gathered from the NEC meeting showed that about N70 billion of the budget will disbursed between now and the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first four-year tenure next year.
The project is expected to take off in Benue and Nasarawa states any time from now. These disclosures were made by NEC representatives, including Governor Samuel Ortom, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh, and the Coordinator of the plan, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, at a session with editors in Abuja.
The session was facilitated by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) – a non-government organisation.
Ogbeh, who said “open grazing is no longer viable”, also agreed that cattle breeders would be the greatest beneficiaries in the next few years.
Besides, he made it clear that “The Federal Government has no intention of seizing anybody’s land by force”.
