The Presidency, after due consultations, has decided to suspend Ruga, giving their reason as “lack of consistency”, after he allegedly denied knowledge of what Ruga is all about.
Rural Urban Grazing Area, or Ruga settlements, the attempt by the Federal Government to impose grazing land on each state of the Federation, has been met with an uproar of disapproval by Nigerians, with almost all the zones of the country insisting there is no provision of land for Ruga in their area.
This Magazine was told that some Governors were piqued that they were not carried along-or even consulted- in the decision to impose Ruga in their states, and in anger approached President Buhari for clarifications. He allegedly summoned the former chief of staff, Aba Kyari and others involved in the Ruga propagation, particularly from the Ministry of agriculture, to explains to him what it is all about. He claimed no knowledge of the program. Not convinced with their explanations, he referred them to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for necessary action.
Former Presidential aid, Garba Shehu, had said that Ruga has already been gazetted in all the states of the federation. Miyetti allah, which is at the forefront of the Ruga propagation, had insisted that the Vice president is the person under whose office Ruga is coordinated. Osinbajo has denied that.
Two governors are expected to brief Journalists on the issue after meeting with Osinbajo: Kayode Fayemi and Dave Umahi of Ekiti and Ebonyi States respectively.
Umahi, Umahi, who is the Chairman of the National Food Security/Herders/Farmers Conflict, nonetheless, gave a hint on the issue.
“(The suspension of Ruga) is owing to lack of consistency with the National Economic Council and FG- approved National Livestock Transformation Plan, which has program for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons resulting from the crisis and development of ranching in any willing state. The NEC says it is not compulsory and any state willing is required to put up a development plan towards the implementation in line with the NEC program based on the challenges inherent there.”
The National Livestock Transformation Plan is coordinated from the Vice President’s office.
