Herders/Farmers Crisis: Ekpenyong recommends using Sambisa forest for ranching

SENATOR Christopher Ekpenyong representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State has recommended that the federal government should encourage security forces particularly the military to rescue the Sambisa forest in Borno State from insurgents and bandits and use it for ranching.

Ekpenyoong who spoke weekend, in Uyo while reacting to the worsening insecurity in the country occasioned by activities of arms bearing Herders in Southern Nigeria, expressed confidence in the approach to bring a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.
His words, “Worsening insecurity in Nigeria today as a result of insurgency, banditry and Herders-Farmers crisis has become a major cause for concern. Thousands of people have been killed, communities have been destroyed. The orgy of killings and destructions is seriously affecting national cohesion.


“For the Farmers/Herders crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary to address the escalation. And I recommend that the federal government should take over sambisa forest from Boko Haram, bandits and create ranches in order to save our country the agony we are going through currently.
” The Sambisa grazing Reserve of 4800 hectares is an ideal and symbolic place to take-off by establishing a ranch run by the military. It will significantly improve the security situation in the northeast zone and encourage cooperation between pastoralists, communities and the military

“In the Northwest, the military should also be encouraged to create ranches in the Gidan Jaja Grazing Reserve (565,000 ha) for the same purpose of improving security and cooperation with Herdsmen. Cattle rearing is a business and must be done as a business, other than trying to seize land by force”
The former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State added that there was a need for the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to liaise with State governors to acquire land on lease to set up ranching, noting that open grazing was no longer practised anywhere in the world.

He stressed that adopting the piecemeal approach in finding lasting solutions to security challenges bedevilling the country in recent times would not suffice.
“We can co-exist peacefully in this country because Nigeria is the only country we have for now. Nigeria belongs to all of us; it does not belong to only one tribe or ethnic group.
“Government policies must be mutually beneficial to all sections, both Herders and farmers. Any policy that does not take into consideration the welfare of all sides will most likely fail or meet resistance” Ekpenyong advised.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/03/herders-farmers-crisis-ekpenyong-recommends-using-sambisa-forest-for-ranching/?fbclid=IwAR170s-bLh5sIdTHK_6I8tVwaFMzWQ40Dzr55TYMSYIMAb078PDsMw5dbk0

Yes oooooo Sambisa is under utilized

Nice idea.



Lai Mohammed said Sambisa forest is bigger than Enugu state in landmass, so, I believe ranching will be a nice idea for such a 'beautiful' place.

Not a bad advise

This senator head dey over correct. South got no food, south got no food, take back fulani herdsmen and watch south turn to surplus food for the nation. Moreover, We are tired of ndi Fulani killing us in our own land , burning our farms and raping our mothers and sisters

Sambisa forest that has dead brown grass everywhere.
Una wan make our Cows dey malnourished abi.

Smiles

Very apt and accurate recommendation

The most popular spot in Nigeria right now

the best advice since 2015 till date Weldon Sir

I love this statement

Our boyscout military and chicken leaders wouldn't make this plan a reality cos they've been fighting this battle for over a decade, if they wanted to defeat Boko Haram they would have done so long ago. The plan is DOA. This I have seen

Best Good thing to ever happen to Northern Nigeria....

Good idea!

The picture below shows before and after Buhari became president.

Nigeria is the vehicle...

Don't make Buhari angry
You wan make him brothers clash
Terrorists herdsmen vs Jihad Terrorists

Seconded. Zambia forest is over 5000 square kilometers according to reports. I think that size should be more than enough for ranching

I thought this idea was brought some years back. They try and look into please.

if Oga bubu catch you eeh

100 gbosa for you Baba Ekpenyong

Hmmmm.... so how would they dip their koran into the Atlantic from Sambisa? Are they the Long Hand tribe?

On a serious note, if the military can win the territory for them, it'll be worthwhile since no one would begrudge the Fulani government for a teritory they won for their kinsmen just as no one is fighting them over Northern Nigeria and Ilorin Emirate. Nevertheless, it must be won with Fulani combatants. In short, all these herdsmen harassing people in the south should be encourages to move with their arsenals to Sambisa.

What he said is right

Herdsmen no wan near their senior brother O!

Real Niggarrr

I recommend this Senator to be the President of Nigeria "cum" 2023..

The senator was Sarcastic but made a lot of sense.

If they say the South has nothing to offer to them then they should go and utilize their Land.

Nice Nice Nice idea.....

Someone should hand that man 4 gallons of Ogogoro. Bill on me.