In recent times herdsmen, who comprise majorly of the Fulani folks, and farmers across Nigeria have dominated media spaces with incessant clashes, resulting in several deaths and destruction of properties.
No fewer than a thousand deaths have been recorded, as well as loss in businesses (farm produce and herds of cattles) worth millions of naira, in the past year.It is to curb this menace that the federal government came up with the establishment of Ruga settlements, otherwise reffered to as 'cattle colony' in all the 36 states for all persons involved in animal husbandry, not just Fulani herdsmen.
The Ruga settlements, which is called ranch in agricultural parlance, are to have basic amenities including hospitals, markets, schools, manufacturing facilities and so on, built in, the federal government disclosed in its plan.
Ranching, a practice which dates back to 1000CE in Europe's Spain and Portugal, remains an important part of economies and development in rural areas.
According to the National Geographic News, the industry "is growing faster than any other agricultural sector in the world".
However, the proposed plan caused quite a stir in Nigeria's polity, with many doubting the sincerity and necessity of the federal government's involvement in establishing these ranches for people.
Some wonder if it is because President Muhammadu Buhari is of Fulani extraction, considering the Fulani people are predominantly herdsmen across Nigeria, hence questioning the presidency's interest to veer into what should be "a private venture".
There are also speculations that there is a future plot to "seize" these proposed lands, giving rise to fear of domination and insecurity in the minds of Nigerians.
Notwithstanding, 12 states had already indicated interest, through the Ministry of Agriculture, to provide lands for the proposed Ruga settlements.
In the midst of calls from various quarters demanding that the scheme be jettisoned, the federal government on Wednesday, July 3, suspended the plan.
This was announced via the twitter handle of the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media, Garba Shehu.
Many persons have since lauded the new development.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Delta state, Chief John Araka, advised the federal government to pursue the plan through policies.
Commending the suspension move, he noted that the twists taken by critics regarding the matter tilted towards upsetting national security.
Against the thoughts that ranching is not a government affair, he said, " the federal government should come in manner of making policy which will guide the establishment of these settlements."
But while the presidency may have presented the advantages of establishing ranches across states of the federation, it is critical that impacts, especially as it concerns the environment be considered and adequate efforts put in place to tackle same.
Some of these impacts according to experts include soil erosion, desertification and degradation. They can occur due to overgrazing and the pressure of cattle hooves on the soil.
Ruga or ranching also contributes to global warming, air and water pollution, through deposits of "fertilizer, pesticides, manure, antibiotics and hormones given to animals", the National Geographic news states.
Though suspended, the gains of ranching cannot be overemphasized. Nevertheless, the issues which have spurred national debates should be thoroughly considered and addressed, not forgetting the hazards that the practice may pose to Nigeria's already fragile environment.
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