Stakeholders advocate improvement in herders-farmers relationship

Stakeholders call for improvement in herders-farmers relationship
NAN-H-24
Dialogue
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Stakeholders at the herders and farmers dialogue have called for improvement in the fragile but inseparable relationship between the herders and farmers for economic growth and peaceful co-existence.
The call is contained in a communiqué issued in Abuja at the end of a one-day dialogue aimed to find lasting solutions to incessant conflicts between the two parties.
The stakeholders enumerated causes of conflicts between the two, stressing that their conflicts were a national problem that demanded national and quick intervention.
The meeting noted with concern that the conflicts had led to loss of uncountable lives and properties.
According to the meeting, such conflicts often culminate in ethnic and religious crisis, poverty, unemployment, political and hate speeches as well as fear and tension across the country.
The meeting agreed that economic solutions should be found to the conflict because of the immense benefits from both the herders and farmers.
The stakeholders harped on the need for synergy between pastoralists for interstate movement while calling on communities and security agencies to collaborate for peace building around the issue.
The meeting called for adequate budget and investment in peace building activities to sustain the peace.
The stakeholders also stressed the need for accurate statistics of herders in each state of the federation and increased number of grazing reserves in the country.
They also called for the development of a robust ‘education policy to integrate herders into the education system.
“Provision of early warning mechanisms for intelligence gathering and provision of harmonised rapid response mechanisms such as call centres and distress numbers.
”Collaboration and support among civil society organisations, federal, state and local governments as well as security agencies to sensitise the public to the need for peace, security and national development.”
The communiqué was signed by representatives of different organisations including the Director General Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Oshita Oshita and Agyole Abeh, Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Headquarters, Abuja.
Others are Brig. Gen. Lym Hassan, Representative of Minister of Defence, CCI Etuk, Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps and Commandant Danjuma Elisha, Representative of the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The signatories also inlude Baba Ngelzarma, National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Musa Salihu, Director, National Human Rights Commission .
Other signatories are Ajaegbu Cordelia from the Federal Ministry of Education and Jaye Gaskia of Praxis Centre, Abuja. (NAN)
IAA/HAS/TA
Edited by Hajia Sani/Tajudeen Atitebi