Jos The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, has said that the state government will respect the views of citizens on the proposed cattle ranching in the state.
Lalong, who stated this during the fifth consultative meeting with various stakeholders over the new grazing reserve and ranch policy in Jos on Wednesday, said that contrary to speculations, the state had not decided on the policy.
The meeting was organised by Search for Common Ground and Plateau Peace Building Agency.
Governor Lalong, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Sunni Tyoden, said that on the contrary, the outcome of the consultations will form the basis upon which the government will arrive at a decision.
He said, “The grazing reserve and grazing ranch scheme is not yet a government policy in the state. It is an issue that is being discussed by citizens of the state through the ongoing consultative forum.
“This is the 5th consultative meeting in the series coordinated by the 14-man policy formulation committee. We have met with traditional rulers, youths, clerics, state House of Assembly, and this very one, which is involving the general public.
“At the end of the consultations, government is going to accord respect to the popular opinion of its citizens and do the needful.
“When the issue of grazing reserve was presented to us by the Federal Government in Abuja, as a governor, I looked at it as a policy that has economic potential for the government and individuals in the state, and thereby, showed intent pending necessary consultations with my people.
“The necessary consultations have already gone far and I want to assure citizens that their views on the new policy shall be the position of the government.
My administration will not force any new policy on the people. Government is not going to confiscate anybody’s land for this purpose and government has no intention to sell plateau land to anyone in the country in the name of grazing reserve.
“But government has seen the benefit in the new policy and will encourage citizens to embrace it because it will help government to stop the recurrent farmers and grazers’ clash in the state. It will create employment opportunity for youths and it will bring about economic independence to those who venture into livestock production.
Earlier in a welcome remark, Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Mr. Rajendra Mulmi, and Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, said they decided to organise the forum to enable citizens have a voice in the ongoing consultations on grazing reserve policy.
Also speaking, Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Lynda Barau, said, “The new agricultural policy of the Federal Government is not only for livestock development, it also provides for food crops development and it will be of great benefit for citizens to key into the national programme of this nature.
She said, “Every citizens of the country will be given equal opportunity in the commercial agricultural scheme introduced by the Federal Government as a way of economic diversification.”
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