The Federal Government originally planned to have the controversial Ruga settlements in every part of the country and not only in 11 states .
But the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti Governor , Dr . Kayode Fayemi , said the Ruga initiative had been blown out of proportion .
He , however , said no state would be forced to surrender its land to the Federal Government for the project .
There are strong indications on Saturday that members of the main opposition party , the Peoples Democratic Party , may call for the investigation into the Federal Government sponsored Ruga projects for Fulani herdsmen across the country.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday that funding arrangements , as well as other things that would ensure a seamless operation of the settlements , were still being discussed .
Senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , who had earlier given one of our correspondents the names of states where the settlements were currently being perfected, stated that the affected states and the Federal Government were still discussing many other issues about the settlements , including funding .
The source said , “ Generally , it is a policy conceived by the Federal Government to cover the entire country. But the government decided to discuss it with the states and said states that are willing should indicate interest.
“ Of course , the Federal Government is going to carry the states that are interested along . It is mainly between the Federal Government and the interested states , discussions are still ongoing and we can ’ t give a final figure on funding now.
“ But we are surprised at the political undertone that this issue is having . Why will a group from Benue stage a protest that government wants to invade their land ?”
The Permanent Secretary , FMARD , Mohammed Umar, on Tuesday said security personnel known as agro -rangers would provide security at the Ruga settlements .
Umar also said the state governments that indicated interest had been visiting the ministry to get details about the initiative , as discussions were still ongoing to perfect the scheme.
He said , “ Already state and local governments are buying into the initiative . Many states have indicated interest. They have been coming to the ministry and stated their interest to join to ensure that we set up Ruga settlements in their states so that their nomads will have a place. They will also have cattle markets and modern abattoirs in their states . ”
On May 21 , 2019 , the immediate past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Chief Audu Ogbeh, announced that Buhari approved the Ruga settlement initiative earlier in the same month .
Ogeh said , “ Just 10 days ago President Muhammadu Buhari approved a programme called the Ruga settlement. We are going to build settlements where herders will live , grow their cattle and produce milk . The milk will be bought by a milking palour thus preventing their wives from moving around with milk. This is especially to avert any conflict between the herders and the farmers . ”
No state can be forced to surrender land , says Fayemi
Fayemi , while responding to an inquiry from one of our correspondents via a text message , said the initiative had nothing to do with the NGF, stressing that issues surrounding land use were at the discretion of respective governors .
He said , “ The so - called Ruga initiative has nothing to do with NGF . We have never discussed this and none of my colleagues has raised the matter in my period in office . ”
Fayemi said no state could be forced to surrender land within its jurisdiction and as such there was no cause for alarm .
The governor added , “ I don ’ t believe any state is under threat of its land being taken over for this purpose . Governors have exclusive preserve over the land within their states jurisdiction . This is a storm in a teacup. ”
PDP senators to demand probe
Some PDP senators who spoke with
SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday on and off record condemned the involvement of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in such project.
They described as unfair any action by the Federal Government to take over other people’ s land for the establishment of herdsmen settlements with billions from the national treasury , promising to initiate probe into the project .
The PDP member representing Ondo Central Senatorial District , Senator Ayo Akinyelure , one of told our correspondents in a telephone interview on Saturday that the project ought to be investigated.
He said , “ We have to study the provisions in the 2019 budget and see whether the Fulani herdsmen settlements projects were adequately captured in it. We will know what to do if the project was captured in the budget or not . But definitely , we should look into it. ”
Meanwhile , the Federal Government has allocated the sum of N2 . 26 bn in the 2019 budget for the development of national grazing reserves .
The amount is contained in the 2019 budget signed into law by the President on May 28 .
Specifically, the N2 . 26 bn is contained under the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development .
Based on analysis of the 2019 budget of the ministry of agriculture , there is no specific amount captured with the nomenclature of Ruga settlement .
However , there are other budgetary provisions made for various agricultural projects such as N2 bn for support of infrastructure projects and coordination services
Also , some members of the House of Representatives expressed reservations about the project.
One of them, Mr Nicholas Ossai from Delta State , who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, asked the Federal Government to establish agricultural projects in the geopolitical zones based on what they produce .
He said , “ I think the Federal Government should start from the North . They should start from Sokoto , Katsina , Zamfara , Kano, Kaduna , Yobe and Borno states as a pilot programme. The people — Hausa /Fulani — are indigenous to these areas but they are not indigenous to the South. They should be able to localise the people based on their way of life rather than spreading it to all parts of the country. That is what they should do . ”
https://punchng.com/ruga-settlements-fg-conceived-colonies-for-all-states-may-use-n2-26bn-grazing-reserve-budget/

Ever since PMB came to power we've not sat down as a nation to have an intellectually stimulating conversation on nation building and the numerous intricacies of the 21st century economy, this is coming at a time where world powers are fighting to control 5g and the soul of global economy. All we do is talk about cattles and grazing reserve, as if we're in a cattle republic where cattles have more right than humans.
Where are the so called political juggernauts who parade themselves as national leaders, Obasanjo spoke about a fulanization agenda and the media lambasted him, as if OBJ don't know what he was saying. Ruga settlement is dead on arrival where will 31000 hectares of land come from? this is equivalent to the size of some local governments in some states. Fg can't use our collective resources to push an ethnic agenda what moral justification will the government have not to approve Strippers reserve, Alcohol reserve, cocoa reserve, Piggery reserve, trading reserve all over the country. We're all sitting on a keg of gunpowder, if this issue is not quashed Nigeria will bleed to death the signs are ominuous.
Since some sophisticated folks always taunt the SE/SS as people who can't play politics because they didn't vote PMB let those that can play national politics donate their lands for RUGA it is as simple as that you all can't be fighting for political appointments without without reaping the fruits of your labor.
Fatoyibo/Busola saga has given them the much needed media reprieve, before the dust settles RUGA project must have gained much ground. las las Nigerians must have sense by force.

Nigeria is finished

They have come but we are ready before now

ugo4u:
Ever since PMB came to power we've not sat down as a nation to have an intellectually stimulating conversation on nation building and the numerous intricacies of the 21st century economy, this is coming at a time where world powers are fighting to control 5g and the soul of global economy. All we do is talk about cattles and grazing reserve, as if we're in a cattle republic where cattles have more right than humans.
Where are the so called political juggernauts who parade themselves as national leaders, Obasanjo spoke about a fulanization agenda and the media lambasted him, as if OBJ don't know what he was saying. Ruga settlement is dead on arrival where will 31000 hectares of land come from? this is equivalent to the size of some local governments in some states. Fg can't use our collective resources to push an ethnic agenda what moral justification will the government have not to approve Strippers reserve, Alcohol reserve, cocoa reserve, Piggery reserve, trading reserve all over the country. We're all sitting on a keg of gunpowder, if this issue is not quashed Nigeria will bleed to death the signs are ominuous.
Since some sophisticated folks always taunt the SE/SS as people who can't play politics because they didn't vote PMB let those that can play national politics donate their lands for RUGA it is as simple as that you all can't be fighting for political appointments without without reaping the fruits of your labor.
Fatoyibo/Busola saga has given them the much needed media reprieve, before the dust settles RUGA project must have gained much ground. las las Nigerians must have sense by force.

You points are valid especially where u said the world is fighting for who controls 5g and global economy....

RIHMEEK:
You points are valid especially where u said the world is fighting for who controls 5g and global economy....

5g is not the only road to global economy. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Mind u Africa still has the fastest growing economy. Not those ur 5g nations

The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

My question is, will all Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria (and south in particular)now vacate the states without RUGA and all moved to only the 11 states with RUGA settlements?

If yes , it’s a welcome development.
Otherwise, na scam.

The Permanent Secretary , FMARD , Mohammed Umar, on Tuesday said security personnel known as agro -rangers would provide security at the Ruga settlements .

Does Fulani Vigilante ring a bell?

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

No argument.... take the whole potential and all it comes with..

They are not interested, maybe when you create sparepart settlement with 31,000 hectares in Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, they might just have a rethink. That would definitely bring about income, employment, economic boost.

Esseite:


No argument.... take the whole potential and all it comes with.

Sure

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

Go and site it in your state and enjoy the benefits alone, no state in South East and South South should release their land for this project.

daroz:
My question is, will all Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria (and south in particular)now vacate the states without RUGA and all moved to only the 11 states with RUGA settlements?

If yes , it’s a welcome development.
Otherwise, na scam.

Good question but I can bet that they will not.
They will continue to fight, kidnap, kill indegenes of those states.
FG will then force those states to accept RUGA.

RUGA is an expansionist agenda for Fulanis

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

Are you fuc..king kidding me? You are building rail lines,dry ports and other billion dollar investment in other region and never built any in the south and then you suddenly remembered to give our land to your brothers and you think we would sit and accept it.
You all are a bunch of low thinking people. You northerners lack the least basic human relation ability. Your IQ is damn to low to allow you people live in the midst of intelligent Igbo people.
We are opposing this ruga to the last and our governors are not give a half inch our land to this murderers.

lastmessenger:
Are you fuc..king kidding me? You are building rail lines,dry ports and other billion dollar investment in other region and never built any in the south and then you suddenly remembered to give our land to your brothers and you think we would sit and accept it.
You all are a bunch of low thinking people. You northerners lack the least basic human relation ability. Your IQ is damn to low to allow you people live in the midst of intelligent Igbo people.
We are opposing this ruga to the last and our governors are not give a half inch our land to this murderers.

My brother these people think we are fools. This contraption called Nigeria needs to be dissolved. They can't force their ideologies down our throat.

Funny enough, cows add nothing to our GDP nor are we a major exporter of beef. Nothing. Yet they want to build colonies in six different locations in all 36 states.

This is coming at a time when other countries like Kenya and Uganda are making giant strides and we are here talking about cows. While we suffer extreme poverty and epileptic power supply.
What has the government done for Niger Delta? If anyone should be needing settlements it should be the South South since the oil in their land is being drained every day. But no they want to Islamise the country with whose money?

If this Ruga happens, in 100 years time this country will become an Islamic state.

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

You are the most foolish man I have seen

ugo4u:
Ever since PMB came to power we've not sat down as a nation to have an intellectually stimulating conversation on nation building and the numerous intricacies of the 21st century economy, this is coming at a time where world powers are fighting to control 5g and the soul of global economy. All we do is talk about cattles and grazing reserve, as if we're in a cattle republic where cattles have more right than humans.
Where are the so called political juggernauts who parade themselves as national leaders, Obasanjo spoke about a fulanization agenda and the media lambasted him, as if OBJ don't know what he was saying. Ruga settlement is dead on arrival where will 31000 hectares of land come from? this is equivalent to the size of some local governments in some states. Fg can't use our collective resources to push an ethnic agenda what moral justification will the government have not to approve Strippers reserve, Alcohol reserve, cocoa reserve, Piggery reserve, trading reserve all over the country. We're all sitting on a keg of gunpowder, if this issue is not quashed Nigeria will bleed to death the signs are ominuous.
Since some sophisticated folks always taunt the SE/SS as people who can't play politics because they didn't vote PMB let those that can play national politics donate their lands for RUGA it is as simple as that you all can't be fighting for political appointments without without reaping the fruits of your labor.
Fatoyibo/Busola saga has given them the much needed media reprieve, before the dust settles RUGA project must have gained much ground. las las Nigerians must have sense by force.

God bless you !! You are one of the few smart Nigerians left ... Docile Nigerians can't see what this govt has reduced us into , Nigerians are no longer talking about infrastructure and development but Cows cows and cows four over 4 years now .. When it comes to building roads and creating 21st century type infrastructure Buhari will claim there is no money or no budget but when it comes to RUGA matters this same Buhari knows how to source for funds quickly without a budget or cabinet in place and even knows how to tell contractors to make sure they complete all Rugas in 4 weeks after they are paid upfront fully .. Idiots like Fayemi and Osinbanjo have been put in the fore front to try to make light the issue of these Rugas like the greed driven sell outs they are.

lastmessenger:
Are you fuc..king kidding me? You are building rail lines,dry ports and other billion dollar investment in other region and never built any in the south and then you suddenly remembered to give our land to your brothers and you think we would sit and accept it.
You all are a bunch of low thinking people. You northerners lack the least basic human relation ability. Your IQ is damn to low to allow you people live in the midst of intelligent Igbo people.
We are opposing this ruga to the last and our governors are not give a half inch our land to this murderers.

Either u have been living under a rock or u just choose to be wilfully ignorant. Warri itakpe rail in in where Lagos ibadan rail is in where 2nd Niger bridge is in where Quit ur hate and lies! In anycase u are not doing fg any favour by giving land neither is fg forcing u. Your imaginary battle only exists in your mind. Your governors are the ones always running to abj for alms, not d other way round. Kapish!

BrokenTV:

Go and site it in your state and enjoy the benefits alone, no state in South East and South South should release their land for this project.

The problem is that some of the governors are already compromising and pledging their state's land without prior consultation with the indigenes , they are doing this for personal interest.

ugo4u:
Ever since PMB came to power we've not sat down as a nation to have an intellectually stimulating conversation on nation building and the numerous intricacies of the 21st century economy, this is coming at a time where world powers are fighting to control 5g and the soul of global economy. All we do is talk about cattles and grazing reserve, as if we're in a cattle republic where cattles have more right than humans.
Where are the so called political juggernauts who parade themselves as national leaders, Obasanjo spoke about a fulanization agenda and the media lambasted him, as if OBJ don't know what he was saying. Ruga settlement is dead on arrival where will 31000 hectares of land come from? this is equivalent to the size of some local governments in some states. Fg can't use our collective resources to push an ethnic agenda what moral justification will the government have not to approve Strippers reserve, Alcohol reserve, cocoa reserve, Piggery reserve, trading reserve all over the country. We're all sitting on a keg of gunpowder, if this issue is not quashed Nigeria will bleed to death the signs are ominuous.
Since some sophisticated folks always taunt the SE/SS as people who can't play politics because they didn't vote PMB let those that can play national politics donate their lands for RUGA it is as simple as that you all can't be fighting for political appointments without without reaping the fruits of your labor.
Fatoyibo/Busola saga has given them the much needed media reprieve, before the dust settles RUGA project must have gained much ground. las las Nigerians must have sense by force.

Gbam

You've said it all

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

We are diametrically opposed to RUGA. We dash your region our own portion of benefits in it.
BTW, Tell me one benefit that has come to you or your region from this APC government.
Nobody is foolish except those that choose to. You may find them in SW. Leave SE alone.

Ok

blackpanda:
The same Igbo's opposing this today will be the ones to cry of marginalization tomorrow. Ruga is a huge project with huge potentials in terms of income, employment, food security etc

So Vice President Osibanjo who has vehemently denied knowledge and involvement is Igbo?

How about Gani Adam who urged Yoruba governors not to cede and inch of their land for herdsmen, is he Igbo too?

Bigotry cannot help your argument.

Quit bigotry today!

blackpanda:


5g is not the only road to global economy. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Mind u Africa still has the fastest growing economy. Not those ur 5g nations

What do u understand by 'growing economy'?