By Uthman Abubakar
Nigeria’s pioneer organized livestock settlement and ranch (Ruga) was commissioned at Mafa, Borno State, Saturday, January 11, with a call by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Livestock Reform to all other states to follow suit in earnest to expedite the resolution of the protracted farmer-herder clashes and solve other challenges faced by pastoralists across the country.
The Ngarannam Livestock Improvement and Ranch Settlement is a 4-square km project built by Borno State government in collaboration with the federal government for 461 nomadic families from eighteen communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
The Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee, Professor Attahiru Jega, praised Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for establishing a cattle ranch that is the first of its kind in Nigeria with the support of the federal government.
“I must say that I witnessed something I had never seen in our country today. We have seen today the vision of a leader, the passion and commitment to what clearly will help drive economic growth, uplift the lives and livelihood of people and provide employment to our citizens,” Prof Jega said.
“It is highly commendable and encouraging that Borno State has shown leadership and commitment to livestock development based on what we have seen at today’s event,” the former INEC chairman added.
He also said, “It is gratifying that the state is ahead with the launching of the Annual Animal Vaccination Scheme and distribution of livestock for livelihood restoration and economic empowerment of the citizens.”
The erstwhile Bayero University Vice Chancellor said: “It is commendable that the state has both the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development and Borno State Livestock Management Agency (BOLMA).”
Speaking at the occasion, Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, explained: “In addition to a house, each of the 461 families received pairs of bulls and heifers, goats, and a humanitarian relief package consisting of essential food and non-food items.”
He explained further: “The project has facilities that include a housing estate with road networks, schools, health clinics, veterinary services, and state-of-the-art dairy and beef upgrading centres.
“Other facilities are pasture development centres, milk collection centres, earth dams to secure water supply, markets to foster local trade, and security outposts to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.”
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, flabbergasted by Zulum’s feat, decorated the governor with the ministry’s logo in appreciation of his commitment to livestock development.
Building on Prof Jega’s expression of delight that many states have established their respective ministries for livestock development, the minister urged the states to emulate Borno State by adding value to the original idea of the ranching by supporting the pastoral families with the animals and other supporting requirements.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Governor of Borno and the overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, stated that Ngarannam Livestock Improvement and Ranch Settlement is one of the three established by the Zulum administration, one in each senatorial district of the state.
According to him, while that of Ngarannam is commissioned, the other two are also at 90 percent completion stage.
Kadafur said, “The Ngarannam RUGA is first in the list of the three livestock ranching centres (RUGA) located on grazing reserves across the three senatorial districts of Borno State.”
He asserted: “These centres symbolise our commitment to sustainable development, peaceful coexistence, and economic empowerment for our people.”
He said the remaining two RUGA centres will be commissioned in due course as the works have reached over 90 per cent completion.