The Nigerian Government has expressed concerns over the growing wave of violent altercations between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the different parts of the country.
He, however, admitted that government had not done enough to carter for the needs of the herders.
The Federal Government said the trend must be stopped before the 2019 general elections.
This Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe said this at a meeting between the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, five state governors and security chiefs, held in Abuja on Monday.
He said, “The farmer and herdsmen must not have his life threatened by circumstances surrounding his profession. We do not want the farmer to lose his crops nor would we want anyone to. Over the years we have not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the country.
“People ask the question why should government get involved? Why shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock? I am sad to tell you that in the last 50 years until recently we may have done enough for the rice farmer, the cassava farmer, the maize farmer, the cocoa farmer, but we haven’t done much for herdsmen and that inability and omission on our part is resulting in the crises we are witnessing today.
“In Europe, every cow that is farmed gets a subsidy of Six Euros per day; we have done next to nothing for the cattle rearers here and as a result its operation has become a threat to the existence of our farmers and that is what this communique will seek to resolve”, said Ogbeh.
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