President Buhari Approves Review Of Grazing Reserves In 25 States.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendations of a committee to review “with dispatch” 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, “to determine the levels of encroachment.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this on Thursday in a statement.

Buhari’s directive comes after his approval of the recommendations of a committee chaired by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

Among others, the committee recommended the collection of field data on 368 grazing reserves across the 25 states to assess the level of encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder engagements and sensitisation.

This development comes a few months after southern governors banned open grazing in the entire region.

The move was criticised as unconstitutional by the nation’s justice minister, Abubakar Malami.

“The President’s directive followed his approval of the recommendations of a committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari,” Adesina said in a statement.

“The Committee also recommended production of maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites, analysis of findings and report preparations as well as design appropriate communication on Grazing Reserves and operations.

“The number of the Grazing Reserves and States were deduced from considerations of existing security concerns and other pre-existing socio-economic conditions.

“The President directed that the assignment be undertaken with dispatch to bring more understanding on the Grazing Reserves, and implementation.

“Among its Terms of Reference, the Committee was to collate from states and confirm the status of all Grazing Reserves, assess the percentage of available land and those with existing encroachment complications for case-by-case resolution in partnership with state governments and the FCT.

“The Committee will also make recommendations for gazetting of ungazetted Grazing Reserves and create a data base of National Cattle Herders and ensure that Grazing Reserves are well communicated to all stakeholders.

Members of the committee include, Governor of Kebbi State and Vice Chairman, National Food Security Council, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of NEC Sub-Committee for National Livestock Transformation Plan, David Umahi, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar and Deputy Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye.

The Technical Sub-Committee consists of representatives from the seven members of the main committee in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Justice, office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, National Agricultural Land Development Authority and the National Space Research Development Agency.