The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has declared that open grazing system operated by herders in the country can no longer be sustained.
This is just as it condemned every form of criminality from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally.
The Governors made the statements in a communiqué issued on behalf of the forum’s chairman, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Tuesday in Jos.
They agreed that the system should be reviewed in view of increasing urbanisation and population of the country, adding that northern governors will aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to adopt new methods of herding by ranching or other acceptable modern methods.
The NGF appealed to the Federal Government to support states with grants to undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production that would help launch the full implementation of new methods of livestock production and avert resistance through success it would record.
While announcing the formation of a four-man committee headed by the Lalong which will drive the project, the northern governors said they would engage elders and youths in discussions to seek solutions to security challenges in the north.
The Governors, the Plateau Governor said, expressed concern on the sprouts of insecurity in the country, particularly in the circulation of unverified video clips on social media, portraying violent attacks on persons in some parts of the country.
While urging political leaders to segregate between criminality and social groups in their domains, the NGF’s statement said, “The Forum condemns every form of criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally.
“Also, it noted with concern the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in some parts of the country.
“It observed that this is heating the already fragile security atmosphere with threats of reprisals, which the Northern Governors are working assiduously to contain,’’ the statement read in part.
It stressed the urgent need for the larger Nigerian Governors Forum to meet and discuss the issue holistically with a view to resolving all areas of conflicts arising from these threats, for the sake of national unity.
Lalong called for restraint from leaders, including those in the Southern parts of the country where tensions are high and called on all northerners to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians, irrespective of their origins and backgrounds.
They also congratulated the new Service Chiefs over their recent appointments and promised to collaborate with them in enhancing the security of the nation.