By Our Correspondent
The governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has appealed to Fulani to embrace the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) about to commence in the state, to ensure lasting peace for herders.
Sule made the call when he hosted members of the Fulbe Youths and Women Ruga-Ruga Campaign Organization, at the Government House, on Wednesday.
According to the Governor, with the NLTP about to commence in the state, especially with the Federal Government securing financial grant from the Netherlands government, to the tune of 400, 000 Euros, for the project to commence in Nasarawa State, the Fulani stand to benefit tremendously if they embrace and support the programme.
The Governor explained that his administration bought into the idea of the NLTP because it desires peace for both herdsmen and farmers in the state, adding that accepting to participate in the project by the Fulani will ensure lasting peace across the state, as they will be protected against rustlers and bandits.
He pointed out that when the scheme finally kicks off, with Nasarawa State being first among other states where the NLTP will begin, herdsmen are expected to be confined within a location where schools, hospitals, security outpost, grasses for cattle and drinking water for both human and animal consumption will be provided.
The Governor therefore urged the Fulani to embrace the NLTP when the scheme commences in the state.
Commenting on the return of peace in areas where the Fulani are found, Engineer Sule, while expressing satisfaction with the return of peace in such areas however said he will not rest on his oars until bandits and kidnappers are banished from the state.
He said that informed the decision of his administration to dispatch security agencies after the bandits in order to make life uncomfortable for them, with presently military operations ongoing in Tunga, Bakyano and Ajaga.
The Governor sought further cooperation from the Fulani youths in the state, urging them not to join the bandits and kidnappers, but to embark on enlightenment campaign on the negative consequences of banditry and kidnapping.
Responding on the request by the youths and women for additional nomadic schools to be built in areas dominated by the Fulani, as well as portable drinking water in three Fulani settlements where there is chronic scarcity of water, Engineer Sule assured that his administration will build more nomadic schools and also construct boreholes in the three identified settlements.
Earlier, in their separate remarks, leaders of the Fulbe Youths and Women delegation, Abubakar Ladan and Khadija Adamu, both commended the Governor for his leadership qualities, which has brought back peace to Fulani settlements across the state.
The youth leader, Abubakar Ladan however, urged for more nomadic schools to be built, as according to him, most Fulani are attracted to banditry and kidnapping because of ignorance.
On her part, the woman leader, Khadija Adamu, highlighted on the significant role Fulani women play in politics, declaring their total loyalty to the Engineer Sule administration.
She however pleaded for intervention on behalf of three Fulani communities in Wamba, Kokona and Lafia Local Government Areas, where she said women and children are suffering as a result of the scarcity of portable drinking water.
The two delegations later presented the Governor with some gifts.
