Opinion
By Okwo Romeon
The farmer-herder crisis in Nigeria has become a recurring and devastating phenomenon, affecting millions of people across the country. The conflict, primarily revolving around land and resource disputes, has resulted in significant loss of lives, displacement of people, and destruction of property.
The conflict is attributed to various factors, including land disputes, climate change, population growth, weak governance, and socio-cultural factors. The farmer-herder crisis has had far-reaching consequences, including food insecurity, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and humanitarian crises.
To manage these consequences, some states in Nigeria have proposed ranching and Ruga settlements to address the farmer-herder crisis. Other solutions include sustainable land management practices like rotational grazing and conflict resolution mechanisms.
The government can establish an effective conflict resolution mechanism, such as dialogue and mediation, to help resolve disputes peacefully. Economic empowerment programs for farmers and herders can also help reduce poverty and economic instability.
In 2019, the Sullubawa community in Bauchi State established one of the first community ranching projects, which would later become a role model for other state governments in Northeast Nigeria and the country as a whole. The Sullubawa community, predominantly Fulani cattle breeders, acquired about 30 hectares of land located 5kilometers outside Bauchi city metropolis. They built a ranch with over 5,000 cattle and sourced food for the cattle from other states.
The Sullubawa community was peaceful and had a cordial relationship with neighboring communities. Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration took notice of the community’s efforts and provided basic amenities like a school, pipe-borne water, and a health center after a media advocacy led by Dr Ibrahim Waziri ( Sakin Sullbawa) in 2019
However, the Sullubawa community is now crying out for Governor Bala Mohammed’s intervention as some government officials are allegedly trying to take away their land. The herders claim that certain individuals, purporting to act on behalf of the government, have given them a quit notice to vacate their ranch without alternative land for grazing.
This action, if not checked, may plunge the state into a herder-farmer conflict. The farmer-herder crisis in Nigeria requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to address the root causes of the conflict. The Sullubawa herders’ ranching community needs economic empowerment and government support, not destruction of their livelihood.
I appeal to Governor Bala Mohammed to act timely to avoid the crisis that has ravaged most states. By doing so, his actions will address the causes of any conflict in the future and establish Bauchi as a conflict-free zone for farmers and herders.
Okwo Romeon wrote from Abuja. He is a seasoned Reporter, and a Public Relations Strategist. Send SMS only to +2348035809004 or email: @bonromeon@gmail.com
