Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has expressed his concerns over the suspension of Ruga settlements originally proposed by the federal government, stating that such programs should have been created for non-Fulani states in the country.
According to the Kano State governor, the Federal government ought to have thrown it open to states that are interested in benefiting from the economic importance of herdsmen.
Talking to newsmen at a wedding ceremony in Sokoto, Ganduje, stated, “I think the suspended program was really misunderstood. Ruga is supposed to be for a state where Fulani reside; you cannot implement Ruga where the indigenes are not Fulani.
“The program should be for those states that will cater for Fulani and the issue of herdsmen should be socio-economic in nature and not a socio-cultural.
“That is why in Kano State, we decided to develop a grazing area in form of Ruga where Fulani herdsmen will all live in one place and can be monitored.
“They will get other social services that are being provided for the people of Kano State, which include health, security, and education. Not only that, their businesses would be improved upon so that their cattle can produce more nutritious milk for the people.”
He further reiterated that putting the Ruga program in place was the only way to ensure that the herdsmen were resettled and do not have to move around from one part of the country to another.
He continued, “Otherwise, Fulani will be suffering and the security problems will continue. I am not happy with the manner in which they are being treated in the country.
“At the same time, I am not happy with the way they behave too because of their lack of education, which is gradually graduating into banditry.”
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