Baba Ngelzarma, President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, has accused the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari of neglecting issues that affect Fulani herders in the country.

“We must accept the fact that Buhari is a Fulani man; he is one of us. But then, this will not stop us from saying the truth about what is going on in the livestock sub-sector. There is outright neglect in the sector. Simple.” 

In an interview with Punch, Mr Ngelzarma said “none of the ideals of the pastoralists have been addressed by this administration (Buhari regime). Our grazing reserves are there without development. They lack water and grass.

“Even the ranching concept that was introduced under the Livestock Transformation Plan is not one that will solve the problem. We need a model that can suit the peculiarities of the pastoralists that we have.”

Speaking further, Mr Ngelzarma said “we need models like developing grazing reserves, which are areas that have been designated for grazing by pastoralists. 

“Some have infrastructures, such as dams, veterinary clinics and others, in them. But because of the neglect, the structures have been allowed to dilapidated.

“Even the palatable grass eaten by the cows is no longer there in the reserves. We need a model that will make these reserves attractive to these herders,” he added. 

Under Mr Buhari’s watch, prolonged farmer/herders clash has escalated. However, several mouthpieces of the regime have dismissed the issue. 

Presenting a paper at the 10th anniversary of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina state, in 2021, spokesperson for Mr Buhari, Garba Shehu, said the regime was the first to “put forward a workable solution to the herder-farmer” clashes.