Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated a high-level White Paper Implementation Committee on Grazing Reserves, Forest and Game Reserves, and Cattle Routes in the state.
Speaking shortly after inaugurating the committee, the governor said his administration has developed a comprehensive and forward-looking framework, captured in the White Paper, to stem the tide of farmer-herder conflicts, banditry and related security challenges in the state.
He said the committee is composed of security experts, legal practitioners and geospatial technology professionals, and is tasked with translating the government’s policies into concrete, enforceable actions.
Governor Yahaya explained that the committee’s inauguration follows the earlier work of an Assessment Committee set up by his administration to examine challenges associated with grazing reserves, forest and game reserves, as well as cattle routes, with a view to proposing practical and sustainable solutions.
He added that the findings and recommendations of that assessment have since been approved by the State Executive Council and articulated in a White Paper.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at dismantling archaic and unregulated grazing practices, strengthening security and legal frameworks, and preventing farmer-herder clashes, while guaranteeing food security and peaceful coexistence across the state.
In his response, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, AIG Babaji Sunday (Rtd), assured that it would work assiduously, deploy modern technologies and align with best security practices to faithfully deliver on its mandate.
The committee is expected to engage relevant stakeholders and roll out practical strategies for the seamless and effective implementation of the White Paper policies, in line with the state government’s commitment to security, food sufficiency and sustainable development.
