Northern governors hold emergency meeting, seek solution to Almajiri phenomenon

The nineteen northern governors under the auspices of Northern Governors’ Forum has reiterated its commitment towards resolving the Almajiri phenomenon.

The forum perceived the Almajiri phenomenon to be a social and security challenge that needed to be addressed urgently.

The Chairman of the forum, who is also the Governor of Plateau, Simon Bako Lalong disclosed that the meeting was summoned to address some matters of urgent importance in the survival of the region and the well-being of our people.

While speaking at the meeting held in Kaduna on Thursday, he recalled that at the last meeting, the forum deliberated extensively on many issues, particularly the nature of the insecurity currently bedeviling the region and how to deal with the situation.

According to him, “We consequently set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, to inter-alia develop a comprehensive regional plan of action that could bring lasting solutions to the lingering crises.

“At this meeting, we shall receive briefing from this committee and also deliberate on their findings and recommendations. Another

major issue we shall also deliberate on is the issue of livestock management in the country and in particular our region, which has continued to generate discourse, controversy, mis-information and even politicisation.

“You are aware of the many attempts to find lasting solutions to the incessant farmer herder clashes, cattle rustling and associated criminalities such as banditry, kidnapping, among others.”.

He also disclosed that the meeting shall deliberate on the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), which was commissioned by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and seeks to support and strengthen the development of market-driven ranches in the livestock ecosystem for improved productivity through breed improvement, pasture production, efficient land and water utilisation.

He further explained that with the region’s comparative advantage in livestock management as an economic and socio-cultural vocation, the region need to come up with a common front on how to synergise and draw from the funds available for the programme and ensure that the forum derive maximum benefits for our people.

“We shall develop strategies on how best to deal with the misinformation about the NLTF, which is sometimes confused with the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) project,” he said.