The federal government’s rural grazing area, RUGA, policy suffered another setback on Tuesday as the Rivers State Government joined the increasing number of states opposed to implementation if the herdsmen’s settlement across the country.
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The Rivers state government stated that it would not participate in the Federal Government’s Ruga Settlements for herdsmen.
In a statement signed by the permanent secretary, ministry of information, Paulinus Nsirim noted that the state has no land for the implementation of such a policy.
It noted that the second term of Governor Nyesom Wike had “prioritised commercial agriculture, hence all available arable land in the state will be needed to drive commercial agriculture across the state to create employment for Rivers youths”.
The State Government emphasised that it has not given any approval for the citing of Ruga settlements anywhere in Rivers State. It added that no such approval will come from the Rivers State Government for the Ruga settlements.
The Statement reiterated that Governor Nyesom Wike will continue to defend the interest of Rivers people, who have overwhelmingly rejected Cattle Colonies, Ruga Settlements and any such policy.
“Rivers indigenes are hereby advised to join the State Government to protect all arable lands by reporting any form of encroachment under whatever guise”, the statement said.
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