Federal govt’ll not forcefully take land for cattle colony – Audu Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has maintained that the Federal Government will not forcefully take land from states to kick off cattle colony programme.

Ogbeh made this known at the weekend, which he refuted claims that alleges that the cattle colony programme was initiated to seize farm land and hand them over to Fulani herdsmen and said it was not true.

According to him the intention behind the cattle colony was to provide safe haven for cattle to graze in peace, to be under controlled environment, prevent conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, and not to give people’s land to Fulanis.

He said: “If any suspicion does arise, it is unintended and regrettable. We never meant and do not have the intention to seize anyone’s land by force. The Federal Government will not force States to surrender their land or force any of them to do what it does not like to do.

“We have agreed to work together to create a new culture of cattle rearing different from what we have today. We are told that it is a custom of the herdsmen to be moving around. The current culture of open grazing is posing serious challenge and not too efficient.”