Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has said that adequate resources need to be harnessed to modernize pastorlism and fisheries in Nigeria, Niger and Benin Republics.
Bagudu, who is the Vice Chairman of Nigeria’s National Food Security Council spoke on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi at the closing one week tripartite meeting on Cross-Border Pastoral Mobility among the Regions of Dosso in Niger Republic, Alibori in Benin Republic and Kebbi State in Nigeria.
According to Bagudu, by doing so, the three countries will become more socio economically prosperous , with multiplier effects in the economies of West Africa and Africa, in general.
The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum also spoke of the urgent need to invest more in the livestock subsector.
” It was sequel to the low investments in the sub sector compared to others that we are still importing milk.
” If the investments are increased, the three countries will be self sufficient in milk production and even export same product.
” The earlier this is ensured , the better for all of us, West Africa and the generality of the African continent ,” Bagudu , averred .
The Kebbi State Governor said that Pastoralism was a centuries-old noble profession that is currently being tainted with criminalities.
He urged, ” there is the need to distinguish this noble profession from the heinous activities of criminals.”
Bagudu further stated the need to coopeate to fully explore and exploit the resources of the three countries,to bolster their prosperities .
Barr. Adeniyi Adedoyin, Deputy Director , Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that three main activities have been slated for the Pastoral Week.
” The first is the sensitization and training session for Magistrates and law enforcement agencies, the second is the consultation session for farmers’ and pastoralist organizations.
” The third is the high-level dialogue session involving the political authorities of the three regions.
“They are the National Boundary Commissions, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, and the Deputy Executive Secretary of Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). ”
Adedoyin said that, the organisation of the week is technically supported by the ECOWAS Commission, Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and GIZ.
” We are almost at the end of the first three-days session which aimed at building the capacities of judicial and security actors on the West African regulatory system and the various national legal framework governing transhuman and natural resource management.
” The main results of this first session show the need for the
creation of a permanent local cross-border consultation framework between the State of Kebbi, the Region of Dosso and the Department of Alibori with at least one annual high-level meeting.
” Establishment of a permanent dialogue between the two main protagonists (farmer/breeder) on the one hand and the technical bodies in charge of conflict prevention and management (magistrates and law enforcement agencies) on the other.
“The conclusion of specific bi or multilateral agreements on the management of cross-border pastoral mobility among the three countries.”
In a vote of thanks, Dr. Paul Ouedraogo, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Permanent Inter State Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel thanked the Federal Government and Kebbi State Government for successfully hosting the one week conference.
He acknowledged the effort of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on his emense effort on issues concerning pastoralism.
” The governor has been doing marvellously to develop livestock production in Kebbi State ‘, he averred.
He advised the governor to establish an enlightenment team of ECOWAS nationalities including Niger and Benin republic as well as indigines of Kebbi State to change the negative perception about pastoralism being attributed to it by some people.
He also said that the one week meeting was aimed at cross fertilising ideas into fruition on the development of pastoralism in the West African sub region.
