The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu says adequate resources need to be harnessed to modernise fisheries development in Nigeria, Niger and Benin Republics.
Bagudu, who is the Vice Chairman of Nigeria’s National Food Security Council spoke in Birnin Kebbi at the closing ceremony of a one week tripartite meeting on Cross-Border Pastoral Mobility among the Regions of Dosso in Niger Republic, Alibori in Benin Republic and Kebbi State in Nigeria.
According to Bagudu, by doing so, the three countries will become more socio-economically prosperous, with multiplier effects in the economies of West Africa and Africa, in general.
In a statement by Bagudu’s Special Adviser on Media, Yahaya Sarki, he also said there was urgent need to invest more in the livestock sub sector.
“It was sequel to the low investments in the sub sector compared to others that we are still importing milk.
“If the investments are increased, the three countries will be self sufficient in milk production and even export same product.
”The earlier this is ensured , the better for all of us, West Africa and the generality of the African continent,” he said.
The Kebbi State Governor said Pastoralism was a centuries-old noble profession that is currently being tainted with criminalities.
“There is the need to distinguish this noble profession from the heinous activities of criminals,” he urged.
Full Cooperation
Governor Bagudu further stated the need to cooperate fullly to explore and exploit the resources of the three countries, to bolster their prosperities .
Also in his remarks, Deputy Director Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Adeniyi Adedoyi, said that three main activities have been slated for the Pastoral Week.
” The first is the sensitisation and training session for Magistrates and law enforcement agencies, the second is the consultation session for farmers’ and pastoralist organisations.
” The third is the high-level dialogue session involving the political authorities of the three regions.
“They are the National Boundary Commissions, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, and the Deputy Executive Secretary of Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS),” he explained.
Adedoyin said the organisation of the week was technically supported by the ECOWAS Commission, Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and GIZ.
” We are almost at the end of the first three-days session which aimed at building the capacities of judicial and security actors on the West African regulatory system and the various national legal framework governing transhuman and natural resource management.
” The main results of this first session show the need for the creation of a permanent local cross-border consultation framework between the State of Kebbi, the Region of Dosso and the Department of Alibori with at least one annual high-level meeting.
” Establishment of a permanent dialogue between the two main protagonists (farmer/breeder) on the one hand and the technical bodies in charge of conflict prevention and management (magistrates and law enforcement agencies) on the other.
“The conclusion of specific bi or multilateral agreements on the management of cross-border pastoral mobility among the three countries,” he explained.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Permanent Inter State Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel, Dr Paul Ouedraogo, thanked the Nigerian Government and Kebbi State Government for successfully hosting the one week conference.
He acknowledged the effort of Governor Bagudu on his effort on issues concerning pastoralism.
” The governor has been doing marvellously to develop livestock production in Kebbi State ‘, he stated.
He advised the governor to establish an enlightenment team of ECOWAS nationalities including Niger and Benin republic as well as indigines of Kebbi State to change the negative perception about pastoralism being attributed to it by some people.
Dr Ouedraogo also said that the one week meeting was aimed at cross fertilising ideas into fruition on the development of pastoralism in the West African region.
Confidence Okwuchi
