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I spend N90m annually on cattle, peasant herders can’t afford ranching—Senator
Garba Maidoki, senator representing Kebbi south, says he
spends N90 million on his cattle annually.
Maidoki said this on Tuesday while contributing to a debate
on a motion sponsored by Isah Jibrin, senator representing Kogi.
Jibrin had drawn the attention of his colleagues to recent
killings in Omala LGA in Kogi by suspected herders.
The senator lamented that the Kebbi state government spends
N500 million monthly on the army.
“I have a farm Mr President, you are aware of that. I spend
N90 million to feed those cows annually. Without help, there is no way a
peasant herder can do ranching,” he said.
“My people from my senatorial district came to tell me that
their lives are under threat. I directed them to the governor. Unfortunately,
he was not on seat and days later 20 of them were killed.
“My governor said every month, he spends N500 million on the
army. Where is the money we appropriate? I think we have a problem if the army
will depend on a governor before it does an operation.”
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Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, said a
national summit should be organised to look at the farmer-herder crisis
holistically.
“Every other week, we have had to pass motions, invite
service chiefs to tell us what they are doing about killings,” he said.
“Maybe this senate should set up an ad hoc committee that
reflects diversity to conduct a public hearing [to find solutions]. Invite
people who have solutions to look at it holistically.”
Ahmad Lawan, senator representing Yobe north, said the
federal government should invest in the livestock industry as a way of putting
an end to the crisis.
“This is a security
issue as much as it is an economic issue. We should say it as it is because we
are looking for solutions. We must continue to protect the lives and property
of our citizens. That is the essence of governance,” the former senate
president said.
“The livestock industry is worth over N30 trillion. We
cannot ignore it. We must ensure that the federal government resuscitate the
livelihoods of those (herders) who want to remain within the boundaries of the
law.
“I like the idea of conducting a national summit on
livestock development. We have to be decisive in funding our security
agencies.”
Thereafter, the upper legislative chamber resolved to set up
an ad hoc committee to organise a national summit on the farmer-herder crisis.
