Osinbajo Denies Supervision Of Ruga Settlements

By Uche Mbah

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied that his office is the one supervising the Ruga settlements as planned by the federal government.

Recall that a member of Miyetti Allah was on national television where he said that the Ruga settlement is being supervised by the office of the Vice President. Ruga has been under serious controversy, with Nigerians fearing it is a ploy for Fulania expansionism. Presidency and Miyeti Allah, however, claim that it will help to end what they called herders-farmers crisis.

But Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesperson,denied it in a release yesterday.

According to him, the project is different from the National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the National Economic Council.

NEC, Chaired by Osinbajo, on January 17, 2019, approved the plan based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council presided over by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, with State Governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo & Zamfara as members

“The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a program to be implemented in 7 pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara (as decided by NEC in January), being States in the front-lines of the Farmer-Herder crises. Afterwards, six other States have indicated readiness to also implement the plan. They are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states,” Akande said.

“The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.

“The six key pillars include: Economic investment; Conflict resolution; Justice and peace; Humanitarian relief and early recovery; Human capital development and Cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.

“In all the Federal Government will not impose on any State government regarding its land.”