Apparently uncomfortable with the criticisms that have trailed the establishment of the Ruga Settlement Scheme, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved suspension of its implementation.
Ebonyi state governor David Umahi confirmed this on Wednesday after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) Committee on farmers/herders crisis chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Also present at the meeting were Governors Simon Lalong of Plateau and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state.
Umahi said, “We the NEC committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Vice President met today (Wednesday) to deliberate on the approved programme of National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Government, tagged, “ the National Livestock Transformation Programme”
“We are aware today that Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented by the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan which has programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the Federation. The word is willing state of the federation.
“The National Livestock Transformation plan, its beauty is that what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme.
“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis. That’s the decision of this committee.”
Prompt News Online recalls that decision of the federal government to implement the Ruga settlement scheme in some states as pilot scheme has been widely criticised.
Prof Wole Soyinka on Tuesday also warned that the Ruga settlement programme is capable of setting Nigeria on fire.
