The federal government has budgeted N940 million in the 2016 budget for
the development of strategic grazing reserves to stem the tide of herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country. This is contained in the
breakdown of the budget by minister of Budget and Planning, Senator
Udoma Udo Udoma, on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.
It will be recalled that herdsmen and farmers clash has been on the
front burner in the last few weeks and attempts by the National Assembly
to debate on the grazing bill have been resisted by some cross section
of Nigerians. IGBERE TV Weekend recalls that the federal government on
Tuesday reaffirmed its plans to establish cattle ranches as lasting
solution to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in
Nigeria.
However, the herdsmen, under the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria, rejected the proposal of the government to
establish cattle ranches but insisted on having grazing reserves and
routes. Udoma in his briefing listed several projects in pursuit of the
nation’s goal of self – sufficiency / food security which include N940m
for development of strategic grazing reserves.
Others include; N1.3b for construction of rehabilitation of rural
roads, N1.3b for support to 187,500 farmers, N939.7m for extension
services,N940m for price stabilisation / buy back/ price guarantee
scheme.
Udoma also listed several initiatives towards improving standards and
access to education include ; N342.1m secondary schools quality
assurance program across 6 geo- political zones, N817.1 M for statutory
visitation and monitoring of 90 Federal tertiary institutions and N2.1b
for servicing ongoing and new local and foreign scholarship.
Health projects include ; N12.6b for vaccines, devices and operations
programmes for Polio, measles,yellow fever and N1.3 b counterpart
contributions for procurement and distribution of anti retro viral drugs
and contraceptive commodities. Udo-Udoma stated that the budget would
be implemented under six major strategic invention areas in the SIP to
revive the economy.
“It is a strategic target for the 2016 fiscal year.The plan will
place the economy on the upward trajectory as it is repositioned for
change, inclusive growth and sustainable development.’’ Udoma listed the
six areas as policy environment, national security and governance;
economic diversification; priority critical infrastructure; oil and gas
reforms; ease of doing business and social investment.”
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