The federal government has budgeted N940 million in the 2016 budget for the development of strategic grazing reserves to stem the tide of herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country.
This is contained in the breakdown of the budget by minister of Budget and Planning, Udo Udoma on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.
It will be recalled that herdsmen and farmers clash has been on the front burner in the last few weeks and attempts by the National Assembly to debate on the grazing bill have been resisted by some cross section of Nigerians.
LEADERSHIP Weekend recalls that the federal government on Tuesday reaffirmed its plans to establish cattle ranches as lasting solution to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.
However, the herdsmen, under the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, rejected the proposal of the government to establish cattle ranches but insisted on having grazing reserves and routes.
Udoma in his briefing listed several projects in pursuit of the nation’s goal of self – sufficiency / food security which include N940m for development of strategic grazing reserves.
Others include; N1.3b for construction of rehabilitation of rural roads, N1.3b for support to 187,500 farmers, N939.7m for extension services,N940m for price stabilisation / buy back/ price guarantee scheme.
Udoma also listed several initiatives towards improving standards and access to education include ; N342.1m secondary schools quality assurance program across 6 geo- political zones, N817.1 M for statutory visitation and monitoring of 90 Federal tertiary institutions and N2.1b for servicing ongoing and new local and foreign scholarship.
Health projects include ; N12.6b for vaccines, devices and operations programmes for Polio, measles,yellow fever and N1.3 b counterpart contributions for procurement and distribution of anti retro viral drugs and contraceptive commodities.
Udo-Udoma stated that the budget would be implemented under six major strategic invention areas in the SIP to revive the economy.
.“It is a strategic target for the 2016 fiscal year.The plan will place the economy on the upward trajectory as it is repositioned for change, inclusive growth and sustainable development.’’
Udoma listed the six areas as policy environment, national security and governance; economic diversification; priority critical infrastructure; oil and gas reforms; ease of doing business and social investment.
Credit: Leadership Newspaper
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