Kano State governor invites herdsmen from all over Nigeria to come and graze in his state

KANO State governor Abdullahi Ganduje has called on all Fulani herdsmen resident in other parts of the country especially Benue and Taraba States to relocate to the state as it has a vast amount of grazing land to accommodate them and their cattle.

Over recent years, Fulani herdsmen have been involved in bloody clashes with farming communities across Nigeria as they move their livestock across farmland. These cattle eat crops, infuriating local communities and in response to opposition, the heavily-armed herdsmen have launched bloody attacks, leaving hundreds dead.

Of late, Benue and Taraba states have been the scenes of some of the most brutal clashes and hundreds of people in both states now live in makeshift refugee camps. In response to the crisis, Governor Ganduje, who was inspecting the vaccination of over one million cattle and other small animals free-of-charge at the Kadawa artificial insemination centre in Garum Malam Local Government Area of the state today, said Kano could accommodate the pastoralists.

Speaking during event tagged Towards Conservation of Livestock Resources and Animal Protein for Citizens of Kano, the governor said the exercise was aimed at keeping animals healthy and improving the economy of the state. According to the governor, the over 1m cattle and small animals were being vaccinated for free to rid them of diseases, adding that his administration was committed to the welfare and economic wellbeing of the Fulani herdsmen.

He further stated that as part of the government’s commitment to encourage herdsmen, the Kano State government has continued to provide facilities that will accommodate them and their cattle so as to prevent them from travelling to other states in search of grazing lands. Governor Ganduje also stated that Fulani herdsmen of Kano origin do not move out of the state to other states because the state has enough grazing land, ranches and traditional livestock routes.

"They don’t have any reason to move out of the state as we take care of them and we accord them the respect and dignity they deserve. I am inviting herdsmen from all parts of Nigeria to relocate to Kano because we have enough facilities to accommodate them.

"We have grazing lands in Rogo, Gaya, Kura, Tudun Wada, Ungogo and other reserved places where facilities are in place to accommodate the herdsmen and their cattle. The Falgore Game Reserve can take care of millions of herdsmen and their cattle in Nigeria and the place has been designed to contain schools, human and animal clinics, markets, recreational centres, and other social amenities that can give the herdsmen enough comfort to take care of their animals and do their business without hindrance," Governor Ganduje added.

He pointed out that his administration was already working in collaboration with the federal government and foreign agencies to convert the Falgore Game Reserve into a modern grazing land. According to the governor, the fear of cattle rustling in Kano was over.