22 States key Into National Livestock Transformation Plan,(NLTP), Agriculture Minister.

By Abdullahi Shuaibu, Lafia
Minister of Agriculture and rural development, Alhaji Sabo Muhammad Nanono has said that 22 states including Abuja, the federal capital Territory have so far registered for grazing reserve in their states. The minister who disclosed this in Baure,Awe local government Area of Nasarawa state during the launch of the programme also said the scheme would be lauched in four states in the country which includes plateau, Kaduna,Adamawa and Gombe states. Hé also said the exercise would cover over 400,000 hectres of land across the country which according to him wouldn’t bring a lasting peace between herders and farmers. The Minister used the opportunity to commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nasarawa state Governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule for their untired efforts in ensuring the success of the programme. Also Speaking, Governor Simon Lalong of plateau state appealed to other states of the federation who are yet to register for the programme to do so for peace progress and the overall development for our various states and the country. He assured the federal government that the programme would be launched in Wase local government area of plateau state in no distance time so that the state will be the second in the country after Nasarawa state. On his part, Nasarawa state Governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule who expressed happiness with president Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the programme, also commended the government of Netherlands for their support to the Nigerian government for the execution of the programme. He said the state government under his leadership is doing it best to ensure that the programme is sustained.” Security of the people is more important than the lands we are donating for the programme, because herders/ farmers conflict is seriously affecting the production of Agriculture input in the country.” He therefore appealed to the federal government to immediately launch the programme in plateau and other states of the federation in the best interest of peace, Unity and progress. Speaking earlier, senior Special Assistant to the president on Agriculture,Dr Andrew Kwasari commended Pres Muhammadu Buhari and the Nasarawa state Governor, Engineer Abdullahi.A. Sule for their unflinching support to the programme in the country and urged other state governors to key -in to the programme in their various states. On his part, Senate committee chairman on Agriculture, senator Abdullahi Adamu who commended the federal government for the initiative said the programme if fully implemented would tackle farmers/ herders conflict in the country. Adamu noted that the 27 million cattle across the country would be safe as a result of the programme. Ambassadors of Netherlands and Argentina delivered their good will messages during the occasion.