*Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria鈥檚 Chief of Army Staff, urges the National Assembly to pass a bill banning open grazing as part of the solutions to the perennial problem of farmer-herder clashes, kidnappings, and violent attacks being attributed to killer herdsmen in the country

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Against the backdrop of incessant security challenges and their impact on food insecurity, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria鈥檚 Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged the National Assembly (NASS), in Abuja, FCT, to enact a law banning open grazing in the country.

Gen. Oluyede stated this on the final day of the 3-Day National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security, organised in Abuja by the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security with support from development partners.

The theme of the summit is: 鈥淐urbing Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Through Effective Synergies鈥�.

The Army Chief called on the Federal Legislature to pass a bill banning open grazing as part of the solutions to the perennial problem of farmer-herder clashes, kidnappings, and violent attacks being attributed to killer herdsmen.

Represented at the event by Major-General O. M. Dare, Executive Director, Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited, Oluyede also averred that open grazing is no longer sustainable in Nigeria.

He asked the National Assembly to enact a legislation to ban open grazing and provide ranching alternatives for herders.

He further noted that the law would form part of the effective non-kinetic policies used to combat high-level insecurity in some parts of the country.

The Nigerian Army (NA) Chief stated with Nigeria鈥檚 growing population, the encroachment on grazing routes, hunger, malnutrition, and poverty fuel insecurity, there is a need for a multi-dimensional approach to address the problem.

The COAS noted: 鈥淭he issue of food insecurity is give and take. Even if all security agencies are deployed to the farms, they cannot cover every farmland.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need to embrace ranching, leverage technology, and ensure every state and local government gets involved.

“Security agencies should be empowered to focus on their constitutional duties.鈥�

Alternatives to open grazing, by COAS

Responding to a summit participant’s question on how land would be obtained for ranching in the face of the ban on open grazing, Gen. Oluyede said as with some other laws and policies, ranching and the ban on open grazing would not implemented by fiat.

He explained: 鈥淚f we really want to stop the issue of herders-farmers鈥� clashes, there must be give and take.

“There is nobody saying land will be taken forcefully from the owner (for ranching); it is the government that will solve this problem.”

He averred: “But we must be sincere and our thoughts on addressing this issue must be straight.

鈥淚f we are still talking of 鈥榯his is my ancestral land, nobody can take it鈥�.We are not saying we must have ranches in every state.”

Oluyede stated: “The ranches will be established in states willing to have them, and we can have pastures where grass can be planted, harvested, and taken to where the animals will be fed.

“When you are used to a particular way of life of moving around from one place to another, for you to stop it, it would take government intervention and not the security approach.”

On NASS, security agencies’ roles in maintaining peace, stability in economy

According to Gen. Oluyede, for security agencies, “we only recommend that if you handle this problem this or that way, the problem will be solved. It is left for the Legislature to make laws. “And like you said, the implementation of any law will be gradual. You can鈥檛 enact a law and say, 鈥楨nd open grazing today.鈥� ”

The Army Chief, therefore, assured that the Nigerian Army is fully committed to playing its constitutional role, and would do all it takes to maintain peace and stability of the West African country.

He also disclosed the Nigerian Army has established various formations aimed at preventing farmer-herder clashes.

Speaking at the summit, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, disclosed that the Nigerian Navy has contributed immensely to the food security in the country through the establishment of Admiralty Farms Limited.

Vice-Admiral Idris, represented at the summit by Rear-Admiral Yusuf Sani Idris, said the Navy-owned company has operational farms across nearly all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

He also explained that the farms provide both food security and physical security for farmers, while plans are underway to establish the farms in other parts of the country.

NSCDC: How we protect large farming settlements, large herds

Speaking through Assistant Commandant General Besong Michaels Ogar, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, told the participants at the forum, that the NSCDC established the agro-rangers unit specifically, to protect large farming settlements and large herds.

Audi noted the NSCDC collaborates with sister security agencies to protect farmers and herders from attacks.

He further revealed that the NSCDC created a mediation sub-unit within its Agro-rangers department to resolve disputes between farmers and herdsmen.

The Commandant-General further disclosed the mediation sub-unit of the Corps has resolved 4,000 cases of dispute between herdsmen and famers thus far.

Dr. Audi equally aligned with the Nigerian Army on the call for the National Assembly to introduce a legilslation that would help to streamline herder and farmer activities in regard to the tension over encroached cattle routes in the Middle Belt, North-East, and North-West regions of the country.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Nigerian economy: Hon. Okafor

Earlier in his welcome address, Hon. Chike Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, had commended the Armed Forces and other security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) for working diligently to keep the country stable and for gallantly confronting violent groups and criminal gangs.

Hon. Okafor noted that without keeping farmers and farmlands safe, other interventions by the government to improve food security and reduce malnutrition would not have the desired impact.

Okafor said: 鈥淣igeria鈥檚 agricultural sector, the backbone of our economy and primary source of livelihood for millions, is under siege.

“Farmers face relentless threats; banditry, kidnapping, herder-farmer conflicts, and vandalism of irrigation infrastructure, which have stifled productivity and exacerbated food inflation.

“The result? Over 40% of farmlands in conflict-prone regions lie fallow, while millions face malnutrition.”

NASS seeks support of security agencies for protection of CNI, improved agric production

Underscoring the importance of securing the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in the agricultural sector, Hon. Okafor stated: 鈥淥ur key appeals to security agencies include enhanced patrols and rapid response.

“We urge the deployment of joint task forces to hotspot farming communities, leveraging intelligence-sharing to preempt attacks.

“The Navy and Air Force can monitor riverine and border routes often used by smugglers and armed groups.”

The House Committee Chairman also said: 鈥淲e also seek the protection of critical infrastructure.

“We must safeguard storage facilities, agro-processing hubs, and transport corridors to reduce post-harvest losses (currently estimated at 40% due to insecurity.”

The Federal lawmaker noted: “The Police and DSS should train farmer cooperatives in surveillance and conflict de-escalation, fostering trust and local resilience.

鈥淭his Committee has championed reforms, including the ongoing probe into agricultural funding mismanagement, and secured Vice President Shettima鈥檚 backing for the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security.

“However, without your boots on the ground, these efforts cannot yield tangible outcomes. Let us adopt a ‘farm-to-table security framework’.”

In his response to the presentations by the Security Chiefs present and the dialogue between them, lawmakers and other participants, Okafor, commended the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, as well as the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), represented by a Director from DSS Headquarters, Iliyasu Sani, for sending high-ranking officers to deliberate with the lawmakers.

Hon. Okafor, however, expressed disappointment at the absence of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Chairman of the House Committee as well commended the Nigerian Army and Navy for investing in agriculture.

He averred that such major investments would help in boosting food production in Nigeria.

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