News in Brief:
– The Nigerian government launched the Pulaku Initiative to address farmer-herder conflicts in seven northern states.
– This large-scale resettlement program aims to tackle the root causes of these clashes that have claimed over 60,000 lives since 2001.
Nigeriaâs federal government has unveiled a large-scale resettlement programme to tackle the longstanding issue of farmer-herder clashes in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, recently.
The initiative focuses on seven Northern Nigerian states that are heavily impacted by the conflict. The Pulaku initiative, named after the Fulani Code of Conduct, will be operational in Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna states.
Generally, farmer-herder clashes have been prevalent in Nigeria since 2001, and reports estimate that the situation has claimed over 60,000 lives since that period.
Meantime, the Pulaku initiative is already set to commence activities, with the inauguration of the implementation committee by the countryâs Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Vice President said that the project became necessary in addressing the persistent challenge. “The challenge demands our collective resolve, our optimum sense of justice, and unconditional compassion,” he added.
Additionally, Shetimma declared that the Pulaku Initiative was a national commitment to confront the threat of distrust and conflicts within communities and across the boundaries of the country.
Although details of the specific strategies and interventions remain under development, the initiative marks a significant step by the government in tackling the complex and long-standing challenge of farmer-herder conflicts in the country.
