How Fulani herdsmen, farmers’ clash may make Nigeria poor

Editor’s note: Clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers have escalated in recent months leading to tension between the two groups. The attack in Enugu by herdsmen brought serious criticism against them and threatened the country’s peace.

In this article, Oshikoya Babatunde points out the imminent economic effect of the attacks and how the whole country will suffer if it is unchecked.

Fulani Herdsmen and farmers’ clashes as a threat to the Nigerian economy

The media has been awash with the constant reports about the activities of Fulani herdsmen attacking communities due to disagreements with farmers.

The attacks have taken a dangerous dimension as the herdsmen spare no one including women and children when they visit terror on these communities.

Beyond the sorrows, tears, blood and human casualties the herdsmen leave behind after these attacks; their activities pose a great danger to the Nigerian economy.

The herdsmen as a hindrance to economic diversification

The attacks by the herdsmen are coming at a time the Muhammadu Buhari administration has hinted of its interest to diversify the Nigerian economy with focus on agriculture due to unstable oil prices in the international market which affects Nigeria.

With the nation’s economy sliding low and foreign exchange inflow dropping rapidly as a result of crumbling oil prices, the government has indicated its readiness to take on the challenge and diversify the Nigerian economy.

The paradox of Nigeria is that it can actually be a world leading producer of various agricultural products given the availability of lands, natural resources and millions of farmers nationwide.

If not checked, the herdsmen activities will hinder the government’s plans. Their constant clashes with farmers will spell doom for Nigeria’s planned agricultural revolution, as it is important that local farmers are carried along in the government’s agricultural programmes.

Indeed, vice president Yemi Osinbajo puts it succinctly when he said farmers are among the most important people in Nigeria today.

Osinbajo made the comment at a meeting with a delegation of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria recently at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

READ ALSO: Sultan moves to end herdsmen, farmers clash

According to the vice president, the present administration has a clear idea on how to execute its agricultural policy to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and diversify the economy.

But is the government aware that the herdsmen can hinder its plans?

Reactions of government on herdsmen attacks

Many public affairs analyst have rightly blamed the government’s lackadaisical attitude especially towards its response by the attacks by herdsmen.

Some have even gone ahead to suggest that the president’s body language seem not to care as it took the presidency ages to officially respond to that recent attack by the herders in Enugu.

Indeed, the government has been slow to act. But it is important to note that government at all levels, and not only the federal government, have a role to play in curbing the activities of these herders.

It is however heart-warming to note that President Buhari has stated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively with the menace of killer herdsmen.

Speaking while granting audience to members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the president said: ‘’We are determined to secure all Nigerians.’’

He continued: ‘’I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with the attackers.’’

The president must act fast. Beyond words and rhetoric, there is a need to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians and indeed protect the economy.

Farmers as partners in progress in the Nigerian project

Agriculture is one of the best forms of economic activities in Nigeria. It can ensure food security and secure the economy of a nation.

Nigeria must take advantage of the agricultural sector to boost its economy and give farmers in the country all the support they need.

More importantly, there is a need to train and retrain local farmers who are in their millions across the nation on modern technologies as it relates to farming.

Financial incentives should be available for them to enable them contribute their own quota to the Nigerian economy through their activities.

READ ALSO: Benue state is under siege – Ortom cries out, begs for help

The activities of the killer herdsmen are affecting the farmers and their ability to effectively produce their agricultural products in various markets for consumption.

The spiral effect of this scenario is better imagined that experienced. At the moment, prices of food stuff across the nation are on the high, while some are unavailable in various markets.

This can be traced to the activities of the killer herdsmen who have prevented the farmers from harvesting their produce and transporting them to the markets.

The genuine herdsmen are also important

Indeed, not all herdsmen can be categorised as ‘killer herdsmen’; In fact, many Nigerians are still in doubt about the real identities of the perpetrators of the recent attacks.

Some believe the so called herdsmen are Islamist group, Boko Haram in disguise. Others say they are criminal elements.

While speaking to the media after a courtesy visit to vice president Osinbajo recently at the Presidential Villa, the Senate majority leader, Ali Ndume cautioned Nigerians to be wary of tagging the attackers as herdsmen.

‘’The typical Fulani herdsman I know carries his stick and watches over his cows, these ones carrying AK-47 are quite strange’’, Ndume said.

The genuine Fulani herdsmen are no doubt contributing a great deal to the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria has an estimated 19.7 million cattle. Nigeria is also the biggest consumer of meat in the ECOWAS, with Lagos as the largest livestock market.

In Lagos alone, over 5,000 cows are slaughtered daily. Almost 100 percent of the proteins consumed in Nigeria are produced by herdsmen.

Nigerians must also appreciate the fact that despite the economic challenges we face, the price of meat is quite steady as a kilo of meat currently costs between N1000 to N1200.

READ ALSO: Fulani herdsmen: Enugu govt bans cattle rearing, night grazing

This is cheap when compared to the price of chicken, turkey, fish and others that Nigerians used to cook their meals.

There is a need for the genuine herdsmen to be identified and partnered with so they can have a harmonious relationship with farming communities.

Finding solutions

There have been growing calls from many Nigerians for the government to carve put grazing lands and routes for the herdsmen, while others have said a large expanse of land should be reserved for them.

In response, the minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is also a farmer, on Wednesday, May 4, said the federal government would surmount the current grazing problems within the next three or four months.

Ogbeh stated that the Buhari administration was poised to develop a special grass for cattle grazing, such that the roaming in search of grass and water by herdsmen would be curtailed.

His words ‘’the only reason why cows roam is because there is no grass and water. If we can give a Fulani grass and water, a large number of them would not be roaming.

‘’Cows don’t like walking around. Cows want to eat and sleep. They don’t like walking from Maidugiri to Lagos. I assure you this violence has to end. That is why have to develop a special grass for our cattle.

‘’Nine states have written to me to develop grazing lands, they are ready to give 5,000 hectares of land. We intend to use boreholes to wet these areas. Grass is not grass, there are grasses and there are grasses.’’

Ogbeh made the comments when he appeared before the House of Representatives in the ongoing sectoral debate by the green chamber.

On its part, the Senate joint committee on agricultural and rural development and national security and intelligence is organising a one-day public hearing on a motion titled ‘’Tackling the perennial conflicts between farmers and cattle herdsmen.’’

The moves by the legislative arm of government should be commended by all stakeholders and indeed, all Nigerians.

Conclusion

All stakeholders must make hay while the sun shines to nip this growing threat of violence between herders and farmers.

At a time when agriculture is beginning to benefit from the diversification policy of the federal government, the last thing we need is any action that will hurt the progress and feat recorded so far.

The Anchors Borrowers Programme (ABP) initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria where farmers get credit shows that we are already moving in the right direction.

The commendable initiative, is a programme where a minimum of N210,000 is given to a local farmer to cultivate a hectare of land.

In November 2015, President Buhari flagged off the ABP dry season rice farming in Zauro, near Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state – with a projection that the state would produce one million tonnes of rice by the end of 2016.

So far, over 78,000 farmers have benefitted from the programme in Kebbi during under the dry season farming scheme. Under the rainy version, 13 states are expected to benefit. They include; Anambra, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross river, Plateau and Benue.

The initiative is turning out to be a success story and its gains must be built upon by securing the investments of farmers as the spiral effects of the programme will no doubt empower thousands pf farmers across the nation.

Communities where attack has taken place need to be visited by forensic experts to comb the entire scene, take DNA samples, physical evidence and the murder weapons for lab examination to establish facts on the perpetrators of these violent acts.

The blame game by various groups have to stop while a unified, open and all-encompassing dialogue is needed to address the root causes of these problems.

For Nigeria to rub shoulders with global economic powers, peace is non-negotiable, as it is a major criterion for a flourishing economy.

This article expresses the authors’ opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.

Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@naij.com — drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Naij.com’s step-by-step guide for guest contributors.

We’re ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App.

Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Naij.com Opinion page!

The post How Fulani herdsmen, farmers’ clash may make Nigeria poor appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM (Nigerian newspapers).