RUGA: Zamfara earmarks 300 hectares of land to resettle herders

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has informed that the state would implement the controversial Ruga settlements initiative to resettle herders and boost economic activities.

The governor who said he would go ahead with the programme in spite of its suspension by the Federal Government revealed that much on Sunday to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who arrived the state on a courtesy visit.

Matawalle also informed that arrangements had been put in place to set up the Ruga settlement on a 100 hectres land in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.

He said; “I wish to inform the Honourable Speaker that the controversial issue of Ruga, which is being hotly debated across the vast spectrum of the federation, has been unanimously accepted in our state.

“Since time immemorial, the communities of farmers and herders in the state have been living side by side, reinforcing each other, even though there were cases of skirmishes from time to time, they did not take the ugly dimension they have taken in our contemporary times.

“We are confident that Ruga Programme which will transform the nomads to sedentary life will significantly address the farmer/herder crisis in the state,” he said.

The speaker hailed Matawalle over the successes recorded under the Peace and Reconciliation Initiative targeted at ending banditry in the state.