We’ll reclaim encroached lands to address farmer/herder clashes, promote environmental, livelihoods sustainability – Gombe Governor

Gombe Governor, Yahaya in a group photograph with members of Committee

By Akanji Alowoludo, Gombe

Gombe State Governor,  Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, says his administration will leave no stone unturned to ensure all encroached cattle routes;  grazing, game and forest reserves in the state are reclaimed.

The Governor made this known when he inaugurated a committee in that regard at the Government House.

Inuwa Yahaya who attributed the current security challenges and recurrent farmer/herder clashes to years long negligence, noted that for a lasting peace in Nigeria, strict measures must be put in place to revive the hitherto cattle routes, grazing and forest reserves in the country.

He said the trend posed great dangers to citizens’ means of livelihood and environment.

According to him, “The encroachment upon these lands has posed serious threats to their existence, threatening ecological balance and the livelihoods of both farmers and herders”. 

The Governor also said that to proffer a lasting solution, the root causes of the problems must be addressed. 

He stressed that, “In northern Nigeria today, deforestation and encroaching desertification are driving nomadic communities inwards, thus bringing them into conflict with farming communities, and jeopardizing centuries of inter-communal harmony and stability.” 

To address those security challenges, we must first address their root causes which is environmental degradation that is fuelled by climate change and lack of compliance with extant rules and regulations across all divides”. 

The Governor further said that his administration will do everything within its powers to revoke any illegal allocation made on cattle routes, grazing or forest reserves to foster environmental sanity.

“This committee is necessary in order to reverse the ugly trend, restore our ecological balance, and promote environmental and livelihoods sustainability”, he said.  

In his vote of thanks, Chairman of the committee, AIG Zubairu Muazu (rtd) appreciated the governor for the opportunity, assuring that they will work round the clock to deliver on the mandate.

AIG Muazu added that the committee will never fail the governor and people of the state.     

The Committee is made up of security experts,  environmentalists, livestock development specialists, Agriculturalists, professional surveyors, community leaders, representatives of socio- cultural groups, representatives of security agencies among others.