This was disclosed by the State Acting Governor Senator Hassan Muhammad (Jarman Gusau) in his address at the ongoing 2nd Meeting on Pastoral Conflict Management holding currently in Maradi, Niger Republic.
Jarman Gusau said this kind initiatives of coming together of all relevant stakeholders is always a welcome development. This is so, he added, as it is an avenue to discuss issues related to security and pastoral challenges, and possible ways of harmonizing difficulties and easing of hurdles for mutual understanding and economic benefits of the two nations.
From a statement signed by the Comrade Babangida Umar Zurmi, ANIPR, Director General Press Affairs, Office of the Deputy Governor, Zamfara State, a copy of which was made available to the Spectacles on 13/05/2022.
According to the Acting Governor all topical issues discussed especially in making adequate provisions of grazing reserves, water ponds, hospitals, schools and other essentials for the government to support their animals and allow their children to access basic education would fast-track restoration of the initial peaceful coexistence and relationships between the herders and farmers across the Nigeria-Niger Republic boundary.
Senator Hassan Muhammad Gusau also called on the authorities of Niger Republic and Government of Nigeria should enhance security strategies through cross-examination and check-mating of any suspicious luggages to curtail the excesses of increased transborder supply of illegal arms and ammunition. He went onto caution that the security need to restrategize their tactical operations, as perpetrators of illegal arms deal use crude transportation technics of supply using camels, motorcycles and donkeys in crossing through bushes to dodge security personnel at border check-points along the ways to targeted destination.
Explaining further the commitment being put in place by Zamfara State Government, he revealed to the international communities present at the meeting that, already, the State Executive Governor Dr Bello Matawalle has budgeted the sum of six billion naira for the provision of Ruga in each of the three Senatorial Districts of the State, adding that the western zone Ruga located in Maradun Local Government is now at about ninety eight percent stage of completion and it comprises all facilities required.
It is interesting to note that Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle is the first among his counterparts in the thirty six States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja to respond to the need for embarking on the Ruga project.
As is also clearly known, Ruga, a Hausa word coinage for cow settlement, is an acronym for Rural Grazing Area whose policy was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration aimed at resolving the conflict between nomadic Fulani herdsmen and sedentary farmers.
On the outcome of the Maradi meeting, the Acting Governor, on behalf of the State Governor, confirmed the State Government’s readiness to domesticate all resolutions approved and hoped that the major problems resulting to harders-farmers’ conflict would be ioned out and most suitable ways of addressing them permanently found for the sake of sustainable development and security enhancement of the two countries now and the future.
The week long pastoral activities featuring seminars on Pastoral Conflict Management and Reporting organized by ECOWAS/CEDEAO had participants drawn from the security and information sectors.
The host Niger Republic has in attendance the Governors of Maradi, Tahoua, Zinder, and Damagaram.
Each of the participating States from Nigeria has a powerful delegation leading among which was Zamfara State Deputy Governor, other heads of representatives of Sokoto and Katsina States, and ECOWAS officials.
The Senator Hassan Muhammad Gusau-led Zamfara State Government delegation entourage include the Hon Commissioner Ministry for Security Affairs Alhaji Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, Hon Commissioner Ministry for Forestry and Livestock Development Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Gusau, Special Adviser Bilateral Relations, and Permanent Secretary Ministry for Security Affairs.
Others were the Director General Protocol office of the Deputy Governor Alhaji Abdullahi Lawal Maradun, Principal Private Secretary attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor Dr Ahmad Lawal, Chairman Board of Governing Council ZACAS Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Gusau, among many others.
