Ranching: FG Should Allocate N6.25bn To Other States Also — Falana SAN

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has said that the Federal Government should give a special allocation of N6.25bn to other states in the country as it was given to Katsina State for the establishment of ranching in the state.

Falana, who is the Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB) said the reciprocal gesture is expressly stated in the Constitution that the people of Nigeria shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.

The legal luminary, who made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Lagos, recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of N6. 25 billion for the immediate establishment of ranching in Katsina state in a statement by his media aide and also being confirmed by the Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.

He explained that President Buhari has adopted ranching to replace open grazing in line with the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

“Since what is good for the goose is good for the gander we call on the President to approve the allocation of the same sum of N6.25 billion for every other State Government for ranch development purposes.

“This demand is in consonance section 17 (1) of the Constitution which stipulates that the people of Nigeria shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.

“The implication of the special allocation of the sum of N6.25 billion to the Katsina State Government is that President Buhari has adopted ranching to replace open grazing in line with the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

“On July 16, 2021, it was disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sum of N6. 25 billion for the immediate establishment of ranching in Katsina state.

“The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja. In confirming the disclosure Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State said that “Mr President has graciously approved the sum of N6.25 billion for ranch development purposes in Katsina State.

“Part out of this amount, N5 billion, is already in the account of the state government and within few weeks you will see advertisements calling for interested companies and consultants that will participate in construction,” Falana stated.

The Human Rights Activist, therefore, urged the Federal Government to jettison the planned implementation of grazing reserves in 25 States since the Northern Governors Forum and the Southern Governors Forum have rejected open grazing and adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

The Group noted that in the each State of the Federation the Governor is exclusively vested in the pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He added that the Federal Government has no business reviving “grazing reserves.”

“However, since the Northern Governors Forum and the Southern Governors Forum have rejected open grazing and adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government including ranching the Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond is compelled to urge President Buhari to jettison the planned implementation of grazing reserves in 25 States.

“It is time the attention of the Federal Government was drawn to the position of the law to the effect that while the land in the Federal Capital Territory is vested in the President the land in the each State of the Federation is exclusively vested in the Governor pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“The fact of the matter is that the federal government has no business reviving “grazing reserves” on its own as it doesn’t control land use.

“Instead of chasing the shadows of grazing reserves, the federal government should support the state governments to develop ranches on its own as it has done in Katsina.

“There should be a proper articulation and implementation of ranching as a solution to the problems arising from the obsolete agricultural practice of open grazing.” He said.