Anambra House of Assembly rejects establishment of cattle colonies
- The Anambra state House of Assembly has rejected the establishment of cattle colonies in the state, as proposed by the federal government
- A member of the House stated that colonies could not resolve the clashes between herdsmen and farmers and would lead to herdsmen having exclusive control of the allotted lands
- Another lawmaker called on the federal government to call for the establishment of ranches instead of cattle colonies
The proposal by the federal government to establish cattle colonies across the country as a means of ending the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen has been rejected by the Anambra state House of Assembly, Vanguard reports.
According to Hon Timothy Ifediorama, representing Njikoka 1 constituency, the clashes between herdsmen and farmers could not be solved by establishing cattle colonies.
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Legit.ng gathers that Ifediorama stated that if the proposal became reality, sovereignty of the allotted lands would now be in the exclusive control of the herdsmen as the policy would indicate a change of ownership.
He stated that cattle rearing is not a federal or state government enterprise, but a private venture.
He said: “Such private venture does not fall within the purview of ‘overriding public interest’ as envisaged by the Land Use Act of 2004, section 28.
“The implementation of this policy is not only unlawful but will also lead to several agitations by other private investors for allocation of lands, leading to total breakdown of law and order."
Another lawmaker, Victor Okoye, representing Anambra West Constituency, urged the federal government to propose ranching instead of cattle colonies.
In his words: “We are in the era of mechanised agriculture and as such, the federal government should rather propose ranching.”
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In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state rejected the idea of cattle colonies being proposed by the federal government.
The governor, in a statement made available by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dan Manjang, also dismissed a report particularly in the social media that parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of the state have been carved out for the creation of colonies for cattle in "fulfilment of his promises to the Fulani who have pressured him, to either cede those areas or he faces the other side of their viciousness which may cost his aspirations."
Lalong described that report as false, malicious and highly mischievous.
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Source: Legit.ng
