President Buhari has given his approval for the review of 368 grazing reserves

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval for the review of 368 grazing reserves in 25 states throughout the country.

Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the evaluation would establish the extent of grazing reserve encroachment in a statement released yesterday in Abuja.

“The President’s instruction came after he approved the recommendations of a committee convened by the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari,” the statement stated.

“Among other things, the committee advised collecting field data on 368 Grazing Reserves across 25 states to assess encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder interactions, and sensitization,” according to the report.

“The Committee also advised that maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites be produced, that findings be analyzed and reports be prepared, and that suitable communication on Grazing Reserves and activities be designed.

“Based on existing security concerns and other pre-existing socio-economic factors, the number of Grazing Reserves and states was calculated.

“The President requested that the task be completed as soon as possible in order to improve understanding and implementation of the Grazing Reserves.

Governor of Kebbi State and Vice Chairman of the National Food Security Council, Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the NEC Sub-Committee for National Livestock Transformation Plan, David Umahi, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar and D. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar are

Read also: Accepting the worthiness and expediency of an NYSC Trust Fund

“The Technical Sub-Committee is made up of representatives from the main committee’s seven members, as well as the Ministry of Justice, the Surveyor General of the Federation, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), and the National Space Research Development Agency” (NASRDA).

“Among the Committee’s Terms of Reference was to collect information from states and confirm the status of all Grazing Reserves, as well as assess the percentage of available land and those with existing encroachment issues for case-by-case resolution in collaboration with state governments and the FCT.

“The Committee will also make suggestions for ungazetted Grazing Reserves to be gazetted, as well as build a database of National Cattle Herders and guarantee that Grazing Reserves are adequately communicated to all stakeholders.

The Committee’s first meeting was conducted on May 10, 2021.