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The Ogun State Government has taken steps at ensuring all round peace, not only for farmers in the State to be productive and successful, but also for herdsmen.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, who made this known at the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN)/Miyetti Allah Peace/Conflict Resolution Committee on Cattle menace in Ogun, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that among the steps taken is to resuscitate a peace committee, which would be replicated at all the Local Government Areas of the State.
Dr Odedina submitted that part of the steps taken is also the creation of a joint task force which would be established to compliment the efforts of the security agencies, submitting that any form of criminality would be investigated and executed by the task-force, noting that the farmers should be encouraged to report any form of delinquency to the appropriate authorities.
He noted that government will continue to support all committee, initiatives and logistics that will improve productivity for the farmers and increase the Internally Generated Revenue for the State, saying that the existing recommendations of the committee would be reviewed and acted upon accordingly.
He however called on the leaders of farmers and herders in the State to share information with the relevant security agencies to restore peace and order, while also finding a lasting solution to the perennial problem.
The Chairman, AFAN, Ogun State Chapter, Prince Segun Dasaolu submitted that the meeting became imperative to bring about conflict resolution mechanism to herdsmen and crop farmers in the state, noting that it would also bring about mutual respect among key players in the value chain.
Prince Dasaolu, who expressed appreciation to the State Government for the timely intervention to the crisis, further stated that the committee is committed to achieving its desired results with the support of the State Government.
In his response, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah in the South West, Mallam Mohammed Kabir, who corroborated the submission of the AFAN Chairman on the need for mutual respect for players in the value chain, commended the initiative of the State Government at ensuring peace dialogues at the local level, which will strengthen mechanisms already existing at state and local levels.
Disu Ayobami,
Press Officer, Ministry of Agriculture
