The Office of the Vice President has denied claims that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was supervising the establishment of Ruga settlements across the country.
Recall that some sections of the media had reported Miyatti Allah of claiming that the VP was helping them to establish the Ruga settlements.
A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, on Friday in Abuja, dismissed the reports insisting that the Ruga initiative was different from the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, approved by State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council, NEC, chaired by Osinbajo.
According to him, the NLTP was approved by NEC, on January 17, based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council chaired by Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.
He explained that the committee and Working Group of NEC comprised mostly of governors of the frontline states in the farmer-herder crises, which include; Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Zamfara states.
The statement read in part: “The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a programme to be implemented in seven pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara as decided by NEC in January, being states in the frontlines of the Farmer-Herder crises.
“Afterwards, six other States have indicated readiness to also implement the plan; they are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states.
“The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.
“The six key pillars include-economic investment, conflict resolution, justice and peace, humanitarian relief and early recovery, human capital development.
“Others are cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.
“In all, the Federal Government will not impose on any state government regarding its land,” he said.
