Classically, at the age 13 and as a son traditional rural farmer/civil servant in Adogi town, 17KM east of Lafia, I knew when Fulanis – for subsistence do exchange of milk or other dairy products against cereals in Nasarawa State. Although this is still occasionally practised in rural areas far from markets, but today, the story is entirely that of conflict and crisis- why?
Nigeria in general and Nasarawa in particular has experienced a considerable increase in natural resource related communal clashes (often mis-interpreted or mis-represented as ethnic, political and religious clashes) since the beginnings of the 1990s. Of particular concern are the clashes between farmers and pastoralists (Fulani), especially in rural areas where the dwellers are predominantly small scale farmers.
Ecologically, fulanis/farmer conflict has been in existence since the beginnings of agriculture, but in Middle Belt in general andNasarawa state in particular the prevalence has astronomically upturned due to some of the following reasons, The predominant Fulani herdsman of the lower Sahel and Sudan savannah ecologies from North-west and north east Nigeria are now migrating and gradually becoming nativesin the middle belt region – to find greener pasture for their herds.
This is not acceptable to the root and tuber farmers of the Middle belt that is already farming close to the climatic margin of cultivation. The farmer has the fears that Fulani herds will destroy his farmlands. The natural result is clash over right to the lands.
One of the drivers of conflict in Nasarawa state between farmers and fulani is migration as a result of climate change. The effect of climate change in far northern Nigeria has assumed such magnitude that the minimum vegetation cover in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Maiduguri, Taraba, and Adamawa states respectively, has already fallen below 10% as against the ideal requirement of 25% ecological cover recommended by UNEPto support fulani man his herds. Therefore encroaching desert as a result of climate change has affected the ecology of northern Nigeria in terms inadequate productive land for food and cash crops, greener pastures for animal grazing, decline in water availability and often led to conflict over marginal and fragile arid ecosystem.
Demographically, the Nasarawa state’s population isprodigiously increasing. Its population in 2006, according to the national census taken that year, was reported to be 1,863,275, making it the smallest state in the North Central Zone. But now the State government sources revealed that the population is approximately 2.6 Million.
As the population is increasing definitely there will be as well increase in demand for land, water, forest products and grazing land within territories inhabited by fulanis and farmers, these groups are forced to find new ways to cope with different types of conflict at once because of competition over marginal resources.
Broadly speaking, Nigeria’s systems of Common Pool Recourses CPRs evolved in periods when resources were abundant, when forest, wildlife, grazing, water etc. were abundant in relation to the population exploiting them. Nigeria, for example, may have had a population of 35 million in pre-colonial times, but now there are at least 165 million Nigerians. CPR regimes that were perfectly rational in a former era have now become very inappropriate in a period of population explosion, rising pressure on resources and extended trade networks.
Politically, we need to think out the box and avoid politicizing the conflict between farmers and fulanis in Nasarawa State, it is purely a ‘Natural Resources Conflict’ it happens in Taraba, Benue, Kwara, Southern Kaduna, and recently some part of Abuja, and outside Nigeria, it’s also a cyclical events in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali and this is exactly what led to separation between North and South Sudan. For details check the Minorities Right Group report 2011 “Land, livelihoods and identities: Inter-community conflicts in East Africa” By Laura A. Young and KorirSing’Oei
In Nigeria, one of the effects of political and military expansion was to clear a way for the southward movement of fulanis. At this period the herders could only exploit the pastures of the northern wetlands (such as the Hadejia- Jama’are river basin) and the subhumid ‘Middle Belt’ in the dry season –when the rains came the bulk of the herds would be sent northwards into the semiarid zone to prevent diseases carried by tsetse and other biting flies. But now fulanis has become native part of Middle belt – whether we like or not.
In Nasarawa state, traditional rulers undoubtedly play the most significant role in both managing conflict informally and arranging peace-making meetings when matters get out of hand. However, their power in the community is highly variable and in some areas they are opposed by youth groups, while elsewhere their power is being subverted by local government officials.
Despite some positive initiatives, by the current administration in Nasarawa State to resolve and mitigate the ‘one conflict too many’ the reality is that globalization, population increase and climate change all converge, and increasing demand for scarce natural resources are the core causes of conflict in North Central in general and Nasarawa state in particular.
For the long term mitigation strategy, I recommend that Bottom-up approach in tackling the conflict should be adopted, Strengthen traditional institutions & law enforcement bodies, exhibition of practical political will by the government and implementation of oodles of recommendations in previous communal conflicts committee reports.
While in the short term, there is need to adopt the “Yauri Model” On his installation, the Emir of Yauriin Kebbi State, helped form more than thirty professional and tribal associations. Each association could freely elect its own chairperson. The different chairs elected one representative as member to the Emirate Council. A conflict resolution mechanism was set up at three levels: Low level committee, comprising of village head, Fulani and farmer leaders. They can resolve the issue at their level, mostly by mediation and payment of compensation; Middle level committee, comprising District Head, Sarkin Fulani and branch chair of the Farmers Association. Very few issues pass this level without being resolved. Even if the issue is with the police or court, the committee can achieve an out-of-court settlement; High level committee, comprising His Royal Highness the Emir of Yauri, the Galadima (who also represents the Chairs of Associations) andother members of the Emirate Council. The verdict here is final and the conflicting parties must adhere to it. Since the establishment of this mechanism, farmers, fisherfolk and pastoralists have been living peacefully with one another. The committees are multi-purpose and it resolves all forms of conflict, not just farmer-herder issues.
By Murtala Adogi Mohammed ….is of Murry Greens Consult mamurtala@gmail.com
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