The implementation of Ruga Settlement programme was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari because of its inconsistencies with the provisions of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, has said.
The governor, who is the chairman of NEC Committee on National Food Security/Herders/Farmers Conflict, told State House correspondents after a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja, said the National Livestock Transformation Plan has provision for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons and development of ranching in willing states.
“We, the NEC Committee on Farmers/Herders Crisis under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, met today to deliberate on the approved programme of the NEC and Federal Government tagged, NLTP.
“We are aware that the president has suspended the implementation of `Ruga’ Programme initiated and being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“This is because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government’s approved NLTP. NLTP has programmes of rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resulting from the crisis and also development of ranching in any willing state of the federation; the word is willing state of the federation.
“Its beauty is that what NEC and the Federal Government approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states which may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory; it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme,’’ he said.
The governor said any state interested in the programme was required to bring up a development plan keyed towards the implementation in line with the federal government’s own programme.
He said each willing state is expected to come up with a plan unique to it based on the challenges that it has in respect of the farmers and herdsmen conflicts.
