News in brief: Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has reconstituted the Farmers/Herders Peace Committee to reduce conflicts and boost agricultural productivity. The committee will include various stakeholders to promote fairness and peace in resolving disputes between farmers and herders, aiming to strengthen food security in the state.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has reconstituted the state’s Farmers/Herders Peace Committee, a move aimed at reducing clashes between farmers and herders as well as boost agricultural productivity.
The governor gave assurances of fairness and proactiveness in conflict resolution assignments during the inaugral event. “For fairness and equity, all interested stakeholders are included in the committee including cattle breeders, herdsmen, farmers, security outfits, driversâ unions, market women, traditional rulers, youths and others,” he said.
Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd), will head the committee, a news coverage on the inauguration reported.
Governor Oyebanji noted that the crises between farmers and herders, as well as other crimes in communities, posed a major threat to peace and food security in the state. He urged the committee members to work with all stakeholders to ensure their cooperation in this regard.
Inaddition, he assured residents that his administration would strengthen the state’s Amotekun or Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) and Anti-Grazing Corps. He stated that they will work with other security outfits for collaboration and effectiveness, especially in rural areas.
Many hailed the reconstitution of the Farmers/Herders Peace Committee as a welcome development.
In line with our administrationâs agriculture and rural development agenda and the need to ensure food security, in a peaceful environment, I inaugurated the Farmers/Herders Peace Committee, this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/9aVdKokh2F
— Biodun Oyebanji (@biodunaoyebanji) September 22, 2023
Clashes between farmers and herders have been a major challenge in Ekiti State and other parts of Nigeria. The committee is expected to play a vital role in mediating disputes and promoting peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
Furthermore, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti State, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, expressed hope that farm produce in the coming harvest season would be better. He emphasized the importance of farmers and herders to agricultural growth in any society. Also, he said that the committee would play a vital role in mediating disputes and promoting peaceful coexistence between the two groups.
The committee leader, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd), said efforts were ongoing to ensure harmonious relationships among farmers, herders, security agencies, and communities in Ekiti. He expressed the belief that the committee would help to address farmers/herders clashes in the state.
Ekiti’s move towards solving this problem is similar to a recent report by Nigeria’s livestock committee and its recommendation that the government set up a ministry to focus on this and other problems affecting the agricultural sub-sector.
