National News
Herders Association Demands for Enforcement of Presidential Directive on Grazing Reserves, Cattle Routes
Herders Association Demands for Enforcement of Presidential Directive on Grazing Reserves, Cattle Routes
By: Michael Mike
One of the prominent herders associations in the country, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has called for the enforcement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on encroached grazing reserves and cattle routes.
At the peak of the crisis between herders and farmers on invasion of cattle on farmlands, the President has said he was going to ensure that identify grading reserves and cattle routes are going to be recovered.
A statement on Tuesday by the National President of KACRAN, Hon Khalil Bello, appealed to the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to enforce the President’s directive on recovery of encroached grazing reserves and cattle routes.
The statement read: “Nigerians may recall the widely publicized directive of President Muhammad Buhari to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Hon Abubakar Malami SAN to in the interest of peace and unity in the country take all necessary measures to reclaim the entire encroached grazing reserves and cattle routes especially in the northern part.”
Bello lamented that: “For nearly a year after the directive, no action has unfortunately been taken by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General to enforce the President’s directive.”
He said: “We, the members of Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) with all sincerity of purpose wish to passionately appeal to the Office of the nation’s Attorney General to as a matter of utmost urgency to execute the directive towards the achievement of durable peace and sustainable development.”
He added that; “Our appeal is based on the following genuine reasons: For Mr. President to be seen true to his words and a genuinely committed leader to issues and peace, national reconstruction and socioeconomic advancement;
“The farmers who due to their selfish interest and total negligence to our national security would reason to desist from what will jeopardize our national bond;
“The rains are almost here and there would be need to avert further violent conflicts.”
Bello said: “There is need that all gazetted grazing reserves and cattle routes are liberated from encroachment by sedentary farmers who forcefully convert these cattle routes and grazing reserves into farmlands causing additional insecurity problem in the country by bringing direct collision between sedentary farmers and herders.
“The encroached grazing reserves and routes are legal and constitutionally owned by herders and the President’s directive for their reclaiming hence farmers may plant their crops in the area under discussion and induce direct herders and farmers clash.”
He lamented that; “Even now, the Northern part of this Country is sadly faced with serious issue of insecurity which is mainly centered around the ongoing mistrust between our beloved Farmers and Herders.”
He insisted that: “The enforcement of the said historic and very important order will reduce, if not completely end the wanton clashes between Cattle Rearer and Farmers that is mainly caused by the Farmers accusation that Herders destroy their farms while the Herders on their side are blaming Farmers for encraoching into their grazing reserves or totally blocked their cattle routes illegally and converted them into their personal farms.
“There is no doubt we of KACRAN strongly believe that, reclaiming our encroached grazing reserves and reviving them through provision of water points and animals pasture will end most of the problem we are facing now.”
Bello said: “As law abiding Nigerians we bound to respect our constituted authorities and we humbly pledge our commitment in search of solution(s) to peaceful coexistence.
“We strongly believe that the implementation of the directive will bring about lasting solution to the lingering problem between herders and farmers.”
He however said: “Non implementation of this presidential order will set a bad precedence that President’s directive can be ignored or thrown away and nothing will happen to punish those who clearly demonstrated the act of insubordination.
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“Once we want to abundantly clearly state that, if the president’s order will be allowed to die naturally who’s order will be carryout or executed in the country, and are we God forbid, not moving towards anarchism and lawlessness?”
He said: “Enforcing the order will stop our herders from unnecessary movement to the southern part of the country so as not to unnecessary be heating up the polity.
“Execution of this order will give due honour to our President and make herders repose confidence in the Government by firmly believing that government is capable of solving their problems amicably, hence no need for the rising tension in various communities of our dear country.”
He stated that: “In view of the several benefits derivable from enforcement of the said presidential special order and avert the ugly consequences, we once again appeal to the Hon Ministry of Justice and our highly respected Attorney General to kindly ensure the timely implementation of the order by an Implementation Committee.
“It is our sincere belief that, if our illegally occupied grazing reserves and blocked cattle routes which our livestock are using for free movement to their designated grazing reserves and water points, without moving through anybody’s farm are reclaimed and revive, peace and stability will be easily achieved in the entire country.”
Herders Association Demands for Enforcement of Presidential Directive on Grazing Reserves, Cattle Routes
SGBV Centre to be Established in All Wards in Kuje LGA
By: Michael Mike
Kuje local council of the Federal Capital Territory is set to establish Sexual and Gender Based Violence Centre in all its ten political wards to clampdown on the growing menace.
Delivering a speech at a one-day community advocacy/dialogue on issues of SGBV organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for stakeholders in Kuje, the Council Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabo who noted that: “Violence against women and girls in any form is the manifestation of profound lack of respect and a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women,” said that the council would set up response centres across the 10 political wards in Kuje Area Council to support the fight against SGBV.
The Chairman who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Abdullahi Sabo (Snr), said: “The time for complacency has long gone, it is time for action, we can no longer watch over 70 per cent of women in our communities face physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
” Therefore, for an effective response to this menace, the need for different sectors in the society to collaborate and work together cannot be overemphasised.
“We indeed pledge to do better for survivors of SGBV. As an institution, we need to do more to support victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“We have to do more to respond to the cry for justice for women and children who have suffered violence.”
On her part, the NAPTIP Director-General, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, said that the aim of the dialogue was to discuss the unique roles of all community stakeholders towards reducing SGBV in the FCT.
She said that it was also aim at empowering community members to recognize early signs of abuse, intervene effectively create a culture that does not tolerate violence.
“We must collectively continue to create a supportive environment where victims feel empowered to report cases of SGBV, this lies in the hands of the communities.
She said that parents are been complacent by failing to protect their children in abusive and exploitative situations.
The DG encouraged Nigerians to report cases of SGBV to NAPTIP, while also stressing the need to preserve evidence especially in cases of rape.
SGBV Centre to be Established in All Wards in Kuje LGA
President Tinubu flags off inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajj in Kebbi
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (CFR) has flagged-off the inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajji exercise from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The grand ceremony took place at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday with distinguished personalities in attendance.
The President, who was represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, urged the intending pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and progress of the country.
He charged the intending pilgrims to abide by all rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and urged them to avoid any illicit act capable of affecting the integrity of their Hajj.
“Mr president has been committed to this year’s Hajji due to the economic situation, he has also contributed the sum of N90 billion Naira to subsidise this year’s Hajj exercise in order to have a smooth and successful exercise.
”You may recall that this year, we had a major challenge in announcing the final hajj fare for the 2024 Muslim pilgrimage due to fluctuation in foreign exchange rates.
”President Bola Tinubu also work round the clock to control the downwards spiral of our local currency to bring relief to our pilgrims and other Nigerians.
”A moved that eventually succeeded in lowering the fare. The President approved the released of N90 billion to subsidized the cost of pilgrimage for this year’s hajj.”
He said that the government of Renewed Hope led by Tinubu attaches immense importance to religious pilgrimage due to the role its plays in transforming behavioral and social vices of the believers beyond performing the pilgrimage.
Delivering his speech, the Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris said this year’s Hajji signifies a sacred journey for thousands of devoted pilgrims who embarked on a spiritual voyage to the Holy land.
He explained further that Hajj is a time to honoured tradition that holds great significance for Muslims around the world.
“It is a journey of faith, devotion and unity where believers come together to fufill one of the five pillars of Islam, the pilgrimage to Mecca is a profound experience that fosters a sense of community, humility and spiritual renewal,” he said
The Governor urged the people that they should remember the significance of this sacred ritual, adding that Hajji remained a testament to the unity of Muslim Ummah, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural differences.
“It is a time for reflection, prayer and seeking forgiveness, as well as an opportunity for personal growth and self discovery,” he added.
He commended the Federal Government, National Hajji Commission and those that were involved for there commitments toward the successful exercise.
Gov. Idris noted with satisfaction that Kebbi was the first state to remit 2024 Hajj fare in Nigeria, adding the intending pilgrims from Kebbi were given special treatment by the present administration to confort them toward a successful Hajj exercise.
The governor said his administration had spent N900 for infrastrutural development of the Hajj Camp in Birnin Kebbi to make it more conducive for the intending pilgrims
In his remarks, the National Chairman, National Hajji Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalai Ahmad Arabi thanked the President and Kebbi State Governor for their support and cooperation towards the success of this year’s Hajji exercise.
He described this year’s Hajji as the most innovative and special one, saying, “honestly, I am well over warm the way and manner the Kebbi State Goqqvernor committed all the resources for them to achieve.
President Tinubu flags off inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajj in Kebbi
National News
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria government has called for the collaboration among the counties of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to develop the tourism potential of the subregion and place West Africa in prime position to compete with other regions.
The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, also called for the streamlining of policies on tourism in countries in the subregion while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the meeting of experts and stakeholders of the private tourism industry on the monitoring and evaluation mechanism of ECOTOUR 19-29 and the ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation regulator in Abuja on Tuesday.
Coker said: “It’s the season to collaborate not to compete,” adding that: “It’s in the spirit of collaboration that we will grow pan-African tourism.”
He said: “I want to encourage the localisation of policies”, insisting that policies would only be successful when localised.
Coker said all the regulations in the region be streamlined into one that will guide activities in the tourism sector across the 15 ECOWAS member states, urging for the training of tourism operators in the region as well as the introduction of technology in tourism.
He said: “We must embrace technology or it will leave us behind.”
The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, Massandjé Toure-Liste said the meeting drew aspiration from the ECOTOUR 19-29 action plan, adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government which was designed to serve as a roadmap for promoting responsible tourism.
She said: “To this end, our technical meeting today centres around drafting the operational modalities for two critical tools: the ECOTOUR 19-29 monitoring and evaluation mechanism and the ETAR – ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation Regulator.
“The ECOTOUR 19-29 Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism will involve developing operational guidelines and appointing dedicated members or focal points to oversee its implementation.
“Simultaneously, for the ECOWAS Tourist Accommodation Regulator (ETAR) we will define the composition and operational modalities in alignment with Regulation C.REG.2/07/23.
“Our focus on Private Sector Collaboration includes; facilitating dialogue among representatives from the private tourism sector and encouraging strategic alignment and collaboration at the regional level.
Massandjé, who was represented by the ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Private sector, Dr Anthony Elumelu, said: “Additionally, we aim to support private sector players in finalising the process of creating a regional confederation.”
The meeting is expected to end on Friday 17th May, 2024.
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
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