By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
Rising from a six-hour marathon meeting, the Council of State presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday okayed increased agriculture funding from the current $200 million to $1 billion.
The increased funding, according to the Council, would essentially take care of crops and livestock production thereby reducing the current rampant clashes between farmers and herdsmen which is heightening tension in parts of the country.
The funds will be disbursed through Anchor Borrower and Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria ostensibly to encourage diversification of the economy and promote food security, according to the Council.
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting said Council deliberated extensively on how to diversify the economy, efforts being made to pull Nigeria out of doldrums, efforts that has been made to move Nigeria out of recession and the progress being made.
He said while council commended efforts that were being made to revive the economy, especially how Nigeria moved from monolithic economy to a diversified one, it advised that agriculture funding should be improved from $200 million to $1 billion.
“Council advised that we improve on the funding on agriculture. That the paltry sum of $200 million when compared to what is being pumped into the oil sector is insignificant.
“Council recommended that at least about $1 billion be pumped into agriculture.
“council noted how Nigeria moved the budget from about N4 trillion to now about N8 trillion l. It also noted that when this President came in, the naira was jostling at a very deep rate because oil price had nose dived from $112 in 2014 and in 2016 it was $30. Council also appreciated the efforts of the ministers of agriculture and budget and national planning after their briefings, on the efforts they are giving to Mr. President and agreed they should continue in what they are doing.
“Council advised that planting should be done all year round and not only during planting seasons and that we should grow what we will need, what we will eat what we grow. The era of wasting our very scare foreign exchange on everything that we will need is over.”
Jigawa Governor, Abubakar Badaru who also briefed State House Correspondents on the security issues discussed at the meeting said Council was briefed by the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mungonu.
He daid: “On the security situation in the country, we received a very long brief by the national security adviser, ranging from Farmers/herdsmen clashes, Boko Haram, militancy in the Niger Delta, kidnapping and cattle rustling.
“Farmers/herdsmen clashes were discussed thoroughly and we learnt that this takes three dimensions. First is the real farmers/herdsmen clashes, where the normal herdsman moves around with his cattle and get into a farmer’s land and eats up his crops. In some situations it’s pure banditry. Some of the pastoralists that are not herders, attack, steal and kidnap and that has to be defined as such. Some of them rustle cattles and move into the deep forests. And because of the thickness of the forests responses are usually very difficult.
“That was also discussed today and solutions were proffered on how to get deep into the forests, to check those bandits that hide and continue to commit havoc.
“Third aspect usually classified as farmers/herdsmen clashes is also the settlers and indigenes clashes like in the Southern Kaduna. Some migrant farmers or herders stay in an environment for a very long time and when you have such clashes, they are also classified as farmers/herdsmen classes.
“So we understand and acknowledge these three aspects and all have different approaches in solving the whole problem. And from the discussions today, a lot has been done, solutions have been proffered and the government believes solution is near.
“The minister of agriculture also presented a position on how to resolve the first part of the farmers/herdsmen clashes, that is the actual migrating herdsmen that pass through towns and farms, eats up crops in the farms and create a lot of problems.
“He proffered a lot of solutions ranging from those states that have already designated cattle routes, grazing reserves and activating the grazing reserves to ensure the farmers and herdsmen live in harmony. That is for those states that have the capabilities to do this. And in the states that do not have the capabilities to do this, ranching was proffered and the federal government has promised to support the states and indeed the Fulanis or the livestock producers to settle in one place and do businesses like it is done in the modern way. Already, Kaduna State has visited Denmark with some Fulani leaders, to study a kind of livestock production with the aim of establishing same in the country.
“We believe is possible and profitable to do and those states that want to key into this option can do so. Generally, we believe that every state has its own peculiar problem and each state will be analyzed and solutions will be proffered so that these farmers/herdsmen will be a thing of the past.
“That is what has been discussed and we believe that with the commitment shown at the council to bring this to an end is so clear and we believe we will put an end to these frequent clashes as most of the Governor were in council.”
On his part, Anambra Governor, Willy Obiano said Council approved appointments of two non-legal practitioners to the Federal Judicial Service Commission and a national electoral commissioner for INEC and the 23 members of National Population Commission.
