The Abia Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu,has yesterday assured Abians that the state government will not give any part of its land for Ruga settlement.
Debunking the notion that there are Ruga settlement in Abia,
Chief Kalu,while interacting with our Reporter, during the flag-off ceremony of the 2019 Farming Season in Umuahia, said there are no Ruga settlement or cattle colony in the state as being purported in some quarters neither is there any intention by the state government to cede part of Abia land for Ruga settlement.
According to the Information boss, the state government has given enough approach in ensuring and maintaining peace between the farmers and herders and where there were conflicts among them, the state has paid compensation.
He said it would be an error for the former governor of the state to mistake the long existed cattle market for cattle colony.
Recall that a former governor of the state recently made a statement suggesting that there are Ruga settlement in Abia.
Chief Kalu affirmed the stand of the state government with the law passed by the House of Assembly, whereby the movement of Cattle in the state was restricted to the use of vehicles, as it would not only stop the issue of farm destruction by the herders, but also help clamp down the recurring herders/farmers crisis.
He stated that the government is making efforts in ensuring that the only means of moving cattle in the state, would be by commercial transportation, from the point of loading in the North,straight to the cattle market in the state, such as Lokpanta in Umunneochi Local Government Area and waterside in Aba, stressing that it is high time cattle rearing be treated as the business that it is.
Suggesting that grasses from Abia be given as exchange for cows,the Information Commissioner, however, advised Abians to go into grass farming so that they can export them to the North, since grasses from the south east is now better for grazing.
Chief Kalu further revealed that if the Federal Ministry of Agriculture can import grasses into the country, then it won’t be an abnormal to buy grasses from the South East for cattle grazing.
The commissioner further restated that no pinch of Abia land would be ceded for Ruga settlement as already Abians are in need of land for food production.
