Minister explains why FG can’t stop herdsmen

chika ebuzor

June 9, 2016 6:48 PM

Ogbeh also said the grazing reserve policy will reduce the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The minister of agriculture and rural development,

Ogbeh said on Thursday, June 9, 2016, that the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol allows for the free movement of citizens from member countries.

The minister said this in Abuja, at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes.

He also said “The Nigerian constitution has given every citizen the fundamental right to freedom of movement in search of legitimate businesses; transhumance pastoralism is seen along these lines.

“For pastoralists from neighbouring West African countries, access to grazing rights in other countries in the ECOWAS zone including Nigeria, are guaranteed by the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol of 1998 and ECOWAS Protocol of Free Movement of Goods and Persons in West Africa.”

He said “So it is not strange to see a Malian, Burkinabe or Nigerien pastoralist grazing his cows, sheep or goats in Nigeria or a Nigerian pastoralist grazing his livestock in Benin, Togo or Ghana and by extension, transhumance pastoralists from other neighbouring countries.”

A for Fulani herdsmen to graze.

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chika ebuzor