The Federal Government on Thursday explained why non-citizens of Nigeria were still allowed to graze their cattle across the country despite the fact that it had been established that many herdsmen who were involved in clashes in Nigerian villages were not Nigerians.

According to the government, the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol has given the right of free movement to citizens of member countries, adding that the law as similar to the fundamental right to freedom of movement in the Nigerian constitution.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes in Abuja.

He said, “The Nigerian constitution has given every citizen the fundamental right to freedom of movement in search of legitimate businesses; transhumance pastoralism is seen along these lines.

“For pastoralists from neighbouring West African countries, access to grazing rights in other countries in the ECOWAS zone including Nigeria, are guaranteed by the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol of 1998 and ECOWAS Protocol of Free Movement of Goods and Persons in West Africa.”

Ogbeh stated that the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol allows for herders to move across borders in search of pasture upon fulfilling the conditions laid down in the Protocol.

“So it is not strange to see a Malian, Burkinabe or Nigerien pastoralist grazing his cows, sheep or goats in Nigeria or a Nigerian pastoralist grazing his livestock in Benin, Togo or Ghana and by extension, transhumance pastoralists from other neighbouring countries,” he added.

The minister noted that pastoralists who provide bulk of livestock and dairy products consumed locally, employ mobility as a production strategy.

He, however, regretted that the movement of animals within and across agro-ecological zones had precipitated resource use competition that had resulted in high incidence of conflicts between crop farmers and pastoralists across the country.

On ways to mitigate the conflict between the groups and promote commercial livestock production, the minister stated that grazing reserves and stock routes’ development and utilisation had been stepped up in recent years.

“The grazing reserves are to settle transhumance pastoralists and reduce/eliminate crop farmer-pastoralist conflicts,” he said.

read more @http://www.buzorpages.com/2016/06/why-we-cant-stop-non-nigerian-herdsmen.html

This is arrant nonsense if these so-called herdsmen are constituting nuisance and what my Federal Government (who are meant to protect me) could say is this, then I give up!

Interesting! But when I wanna cross the border at seme, am made to tender passport, documents and even tip immigration staff on both borders. So where is the free movement policy.? Or is it for some selected few?

Hmmmmmmm.

You mean a government will sit back and watch her citizens being slaughtered everyday by migrants, because of one silly right? Does this right also says these people are to kill and maimed host citizens? Oh goodness! Do we even have a government in this country? Indeed, this is bound to happen when those at the helm of affairs are all idiots!

hmmmm

i never knew buhari brain lies in his anus. what nonsense talk Is this?. you come to think of it this are the none Nigeria who also had PVC and voted for buhari.

If gej as a person was clueless, how do we classify this confused government?

This is really disappointing coming from Audu Ogbe in this APC govt.

Regardless of any law that allows anybody including herdmen to wander into any country, it is the responsibility of any govt to protect it citizens.

So assassins, Terrorist, serial killers and all what not can come into Nigeria and do their business because ECOWAS guaranties free Movement.

Free movement even when your citizens are being murdered. so if this govt ever declares curfew in Nigeria it can be challenged based on the rubbish ECOWAS transhuman protocol.

APC govt is a curse to this Nation.

ECOWAS ALLOW THEM TO CARRY AK47 AND RAPE OUR MOTHERS, SISTERS, WIFE AND DAUGHTERS?


WHY DO APC, HAVE TO TALK TO NIGERIANS, AS IF WE ARE ALL STU.PID?

ARE ALL NIGERIANS ILLITERATES?

According to the government, the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol has given the right of free movement to citizens of member countries, adding that the law as similar to the fundamental right to freedom of movement in the Nigerian constitution.

Absolute Rubbish,
The world has evolved in case Mr.Audu Ogbeh doesn't know, you can't use your nomadic lifestyle to disturb my settled lifestyle.
How so we know when conditions has been met with the porous natures of our water ways.
A sensible man would have called for stake holders meeting and asked for suspension of nomadic grazing in the volatile south, till frayed nerves are calmed, with anyone who disobeys should have martial law applied to him. Pending when adequate structures ,legislations etc are put in place.

Receive sense honourable Minister

Presidency said they are Libyans and most unfortunately, they are not part of Ecowas.

Which Ecowas? Lai Mohammed said Mauritius while Buhari said Libya hence we are not buying these excuses.

Lying Ministers