Farmers/herdsmen conflict resolution: The Sule Lamido model

Clashes between pastoralists and farmers are worsening in many parts of the country and have become a recurring problem that most Nigerians are concerned about due to disputes over grazing reserves and water sources but during the administration of Sule Lamido when he was the governor of Jigawa state, he was able to tackle this […]

Clashes between pastoralists and farmers are worsening in many parts of the country and have become a recurring problem that most Nigerians are concerned about due to disputes over grazing reserves and water sources but during the administration of Sule Lamido when he was the governor of Jigawa state, he was able to tackle this problem.

The state government has established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted. Grazing reserves tend to be merely unattended bush in other places, but, in Jigawa State, Lamido has seen to it that they are equipped with facilities such as windmills, power pumps and boreholes as well as improved grass and resting facilities. The effort to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido early in the day to address the perennial problem of clashes between pastoralists and farmers which claimed many lives in the state. 

Another aspect of the strategy was the setting up of security and sensitization committees to monitor the situation, as well as the payment of compensation to victims of past crises in order to discourage them from seeking revenge. 

Also the government has included poultry in the programme to prevent Newcastle disease. Jigawa State government often purchases assorted veterinary drugs for farmers at subsidized prices and modern surgical equipment for nine veterinary clinics across the state. 

An accompanying aspect of this overall social policy also discourages allowing domestic animals to roam freely in towns and cities. Cattle, goats and sheep contribute in making towns dirty, and cause accidents, hence the new policy that makes their owners to tether them in their houses. 

This far-reaching social policy was not restricted to the animals and pastoralists alone. It also accommodates the children of the herdsmen. Jigawa state government has established many nomadic schools in the state to accommodate a large population of Fulani children. The governor approved that all nomadic schools in the state must be funded, equipped and staffed while ensuring that the children are taught both religious and western education respectively.  

Farmers-herdsmen clashes are problems affecting the entire Nigerian society.  However, Lamido has done excellently well to solving the problem. Therefore, states and the federal government should emulate this fantastic and lasting solution initiated by Sule Lamido.

 

Adamu Muhammed Usman, Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State.