The Gombe State Government has ratified the policy banning cattle movement from other states into its territory.
This was part of the decisions taken after the Executive Meeting in Gombe, which was presided over by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya.
The council also prohibited cattle movement from one Local Government Area to the other from October 2022 to January 2023.
Briefing journalists in Gombe after the meeting, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Mr. Muhammad Magaji Gettado, said it was prohibited to graze animals anytime between 6 pm and 6 am.
Mr. Gettado said the decision was taken in order to mitigate farmers-herders clashes and on the need to protect the food produced because of present food challenges in the country.
“Council approved measures to curtail the fighting between farmers and herders in Gombe State. As you are fully aware, farmers used to come from other states passing through Gombe. Already about 35 to 40 percent of Gombe State farmers, in fact, northern Nigeria farmers have nothing to eat now they have finished what they produced because they got 10-15 percent of what they are supposed to get.
In view of this there is a need for government to take serious measures to at least take care of the little we have on our farmers,” Mr. Gettado said.
He explained that the ban placed on herders entering Gombe State from October 2022 to January was approved to restrict the movement of cattle from one local government to another because most of the destructions in the state were done by indigenous cattle in Gombe State.
“It should remain in the local government areas until 31st January 2023,” said Mr. Gettado.
The Commissioner warned farmers to desist from burning crop residues, because it would sustain the animals when they returned to the farm by February 2023.
“Burning of crop residue by the farmers after harvest is illegal because they are supposed to leave their harvest the rest is for the cattle.
Night grazing is one of the issues we are having between farmers and herders from 6 pm is very dangerous, usually, they destroy farms, no night grazing from 6 pm to 6 am as far as Gombe is concerned. We have directed the leadership of Myetti Allah to make sure that no children should be allowed to shepherd cattle because it’s one of the causes of farmers/herders conflict,” he said.
The Gombe State Executive Council approved the purchase of 40 buses, out of which 30 would be earmarked to cushion the difficulties faced by travelers patronising the state-owned commercial bus company, Gombeline.
The Gombe State Executive Council meeting also allocated 10 other buses, including ambulances, to the newly remodeled hospitals sited in Kaltungo, Kumo, and Bajoga.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Muhammad Magaji, said some schools would also benefit from the bus allocation.
He stated that the State owned transport service Gombeline, had received additional 50 vehicles from the administration of Governor Yahaya when he assumed office newly in 2019.
“Memo for the purchase of 40 Toyota Hiace buses, 30 to be redeployed to Gombeline. His Excellency upon assumption of office bought 50 buses for Gombeline and inherited old buses from past administrations those old buses have developed various faults and are not operational at the moment.
“There is a need to beef up the number of buses to allow for better commuting and to allow citizens to commute from state to state and within the state especially as the Ember month is coming in, 10 other buses will be given to other MDAs and organizations that have since indicated interest for vehicles to be dedicated to them,” said Mr. Magaji.
Commenting on the 2023 proposed budget, the Gombe State Commissioner of Finance said, the budget was 11% percent above the 2022 budget.
“Second memo, is on the 2023 budget proposal recently we Medium Term Expenditure Framework was approved by Council and the state assembly has concluded, giving us parameters for us to be able to prepare the 2023 Appropriation Bill.
He adds that the State is proposing a budget figure of 173,722,22 billion naira, which is an increase of 11 percent from the 2022 budget size.
Lateefah Ibrahim
