Proposed Way Out Of Fulani herdsmen and Farmers Clashes.

Herdsmen depend on their cattle as their means of livelihood, the same way farmers depend on their crops.
To feed their cattle, the herdsmen armed with long stick must lead the cattle out early in the morning from their settlement into the bush, in the course of grazing however, the animals strayed into the cultivated farm lands and had a field day on the crops of the farmers. This naturally resulted in clashes between the aggrieved farmers and cattle rearers, using cutlass, bows and arrows to settle scores.
In recent times, cattle rustlers armed with sophisticated weapons entered the scene, killing the herdsmen and herding the cattle away to be sold in other part of the country. Herdsmen therefore had no choice than to abandon their traditional long stick for Ak47 riffles with which they now have advantage over the Farmers in any of their confrontations.
*In a bid to curb these violent clashes, a bill sponsored by senator Zainab Kure,* Representing Niger central in the *Seventh* Senate was presented for consideration but was rejected by the last Senate. The bill however have been revived in the present political dispensation and presently before the house of Representatives. 
Titled *National Grazing Reserve* ( Establishment) Bill 2016, sponsored by Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim, 

*This Bill Seek To Establish A National Grazing Reserve Commission*, Which shall have power among other thing to acquire, hold, lease, or dispose of any property, movable or immovable for the purpose of carrying out its function.
The commission will also have a governing council headed by a chairman appointed by the president and confirm by the Senate with members representing the federal ministry of Agriculture, Rural development and water resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Housing and urban development, the national commission for nomadic education and shall also have a director General.
The following lands may be subject to the provisions of the Act to be constituted as National Grazing Reserve and stock Routes, lands at the disposal of the federal Government of Nigeria and secondly any lands in respect of which it *appears* to the commission that grazing in such land should be practiced. Contravention of any of the provisions in the Act shall be punishable by a fine of #50,000 naira or *Five* (5) years imprisonment or both and no Court of law in Nigeria shall carry out execution of it's judgement or attachment of court process issued against the commission in any action or suit without obtaining the prior consent of the Attorney General of the Federation..

This bill do not go down well with majority because of the excessive power bestowed on the commission to possess any land/ properties in respect of which it appears to the commission that grazing in such land should be practiced and *contravention* of any of the provisions in the Act shall be punished.
This is [ Technically ] and forcefully taken over people's properties to favor some few. On this note, the South - South and South - East state Assemble during their ever first joint meeting passed a resolution that they will not accept the Grazing Bill in their respective States. This is a good move but definitely not the best move, because if we do not come together to find a way and lasting solution to stop this fulani and farmers clashes that is bedeviling our country, we will live to regret our actions and inactions in the long run.

On this note, I have come out with a proposal that if holistically and critically surveyed, analysed and looked into will bring a lasting solution to this crisis.
 I think the best thing that government can do pertaining this herdsmen saga is to create a ranch and not *grazing route* in all the 36 state of the federation including the FTC. The President as a matter of urgency needs to have a joint meeting with all the 36 state governors, federal Reps, stakeholders and civil right groups.
Aim: to discuss a way out of this clash(es) and to find a lasting solution to it.

The following is to be discussed and agreed on.

1). Land allocation for the proposed ranch÷ if i may advice on this, it will be better for the federal government to grant and allow States the sole responsibility of allocating lands anywhere they felt is convenience for the proposed ranch to be constructed. It will also be better for the ranches to be constructed by States, which will make them 100% owners of the ranches the same way markets are been constructed by States
 Ultra modern markets in most states of the federation is a good example.

2). Terms and conditions ÷ The stakeholders and the government will negotiate the terms and conditions of operating in the proposed ranches. Part of the terms and conditions from government to the stakeholders will be as follows....

i) No cattle will be allowed to graze outside the ranch or seen walking on the road for whatever reason.

ii). Violator will be charged and persecuted.

iii). Violator will be made to pay fine or go to prison or both.

3). Security÷ Security operators that Will be manning the ranch will be discussed, if it will be the sole responsibility of the Federal or state government or both.

4). Funding ÷ This is one of the major challenge(s) that need to be discuss by the state and federal government. But it will be better for state to fund this project and by so doing, the autonomy will be there for the states to enjoy.

Advantage of this proposal.

1). States will collect rents, tax and other levies thereby increasing their IGR.

2). Motorists will no longer be dragging roads with cattle and accident related to cattle will be history.

3). Clashes between herdsmen and farmers will be a thing of the past.

4). Cattle will gain more flesh and produce more milk.

5). Herdsmen will no longer be marauding from one locality to another, hereby having more energy reserve than when trekking from one area to another.
Cow faeces will be stored and sold as manure and money will be made from it.

6). The herdsmen will be easily educated since they will be in a confined area.

7). The herdsmen and their cattle will have access to clean and pure drinking water inside the ranch.

. Health care center will be built inside the ranch thereby making it easy for the herders and their cattle to be treated anytime they need medical assistant.

9). Other Nigerians can also go into the business, its not an exclusive trade of the Fulanis..... 
      The benefits are endless and i urge every well meaning Nigeria to bring out his/her own idea on this matter, so as to have a lasting solution to end the crisis.
Thanks.

Compiled by Kentuta