Association Urges FCT Minister To Establish Grazing Areas for Herders

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has requested the Federal Capital Territory Minister to quickly establish grazing areas for herders, so that they can move their cows to these areas and find a permanent solution.

Mrs. Janet Peni, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Deputy Director of Information, who spoke at a meeting between the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and MACBAN on Wednesday in Abuja made this statement known.

MACBAN promised that no cow will be seen loitering the streets of Abuja, during the Presidential inauguration on May 29.

The Chairman of MACBAN in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Usman Muhammad, pledged to help ensure that no cows will be seen roaming the city prior to the event.

In his words, “It is our culture to receive a visitor in a very clean and tidy environment and in this case, the in-coming Government is the visitor. “We promise to clear and clean the city for a government that we elected.”

Muhammad recalled attending a meeting with the FCT Minister and other investors from Dubai.

He noted that the meeting was both timely and strategic, as it gave stakeholders an opportunity to bring their issues to the attention of the Minister.

Additionally, the investors expressed interest in investing in more profitable cattle rearing in the FCT. He suggested that this could be a source of income for both the FCT Administration and local cattle breeders, and it could also introduce herders to up-to-date cattle rearing practices.

The chairman expressed his confidence that he would receive feedback from the FCT administration regarding further steps.

He also encouraged the incoming government to aid them in dealing with cattle rustling, as evidenced by the recent theft of 300 cows from his blood brother.

Also, the Chairman of the association’s Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) branch stated his commitment to informing all herders in his domain about the importance of cooperating with the government in order to ensure a peaceful and successful inauguration in a clean and well-kept environment.

He promised to send a message to herders instructing them not to let their cows graze in the streets of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Director AEPB, Osi Braimah, also stated that the meeting was intended to bring together leaders of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders association, FCT Chapter in order to discover a permanent solution for the difficult issue of cattle grazing in the FCT.

The Director said, “As we all know that cattle grazing in the FCT is against the law, and in a bid to resolve the problem, quarterly meetings are held to address the matter.

“It is more pressing now, because soon the entire world will be focused on not just Nigeria, but on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, the venue of the inauguration of Nigeria’s President-elect.

“The inauguration will host over 47 Presidents and heads of states and other important dignitaries across the globe, hence the need to keep the city very clean and to ensure that no cow is seen grazing in the FCT and its environs,” Braimah noted.

Director Braimah declared that they had all agreed on a course of action and had assurances from the chairperson of the FCT division and the chairperson of the AMAC division of the organization that they would not wander around the FCT with cows.

He further cautioned that anyone who violates the regulations will be apprehended, along with their livestock, by a joint effort of AEPB enforcement officers and the police force or other law enforcement personnel already present.

The AEPB director also stated that the agency is making every effort to keep the city pristine in anticipation for the inauguration and beyond, living up to the extremely high standards it has imposed and justified the FCT Minister’s strong support.

Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi