Governments at all levels have been called upon to encourage business entrepreneurs and individuals in the livestock sector to set up ranches across the country.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, during its meeting held on Tuesday in the Akure home of their leader, Reuben Fasoranti, also said that all the impediments against the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws passed by some state governments should be removed.
According to them, “this is to put a check on the destructions being visited on farmlands and stem farmers/herders clashes.”
Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, in a statement made available to journalists, said, “there is the need for strong policies on justice, fairness and a determination to ensure that no group of people constitute a danger or threat to other people, especially in their ancestral homes.”
The statement reads further, “Afenifere takes note of the efforts of the federal government to tackle the economic challenges the country is facing. Having noticed that the impact of some of the steps taken is already being felt in some aspects of the economy
“Afenifere calls on the government to work harder on its economic reform policies to ensure that the country’s economy bounces back and becomes stronger.
“Afenifere feels that, as the security agencies are trying their best, a lot still needs to be done to stem the undesirable insecurity situation going on in different parts of the country.
“In this respect, Afenifere calls for accelerated actions for the urgent take-off of the much-announced state police. Besides, as the National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu suggested that local communities should be encouraged and funded to defend themselves.
“Furthermore, we feel that while both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies are employed to combat banditry and terrorism, community leaders, politicians and the locals should identify and check internal saboteurs and those who are collaborating with criminals.
“As Afenifere has repeatedly advocated, we strongly believe that restructuring of the country is a panacea for tackling most of the country’s problems, and we call for an urgent Bill to be sent to the National Assembly for this purpose.”
