Kogi State establishes 17-Member Committee to prevent and resolve Farmer-Herder conflicts

In a proactive move to foster peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in Kogi State, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo has inaugurated a 17-member Conflict Prevention and Resolution Committee.

The committee, which was inaugurated on Thursday, has been tasked with a comprehensive mandate to address the longstanding tensions between these two critical stakeholders in the state’s agricultural sector.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Governor Ododo, who was represented by Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, the Kogi Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-Pres) State Project Coordinator, outlined the committee’s terms of reference.

These include guiding the project on tracing and demarcating stock routes and grazing reserves, as well as enlightening farmers and herders on the importance of each other to the society and the need for peaceful coexistence.

Additionally, the committee is expected to facilitate the amicable settlement of disputes between farmers and herders, determine appropriate compensation for any party that suffers losses, and ensure that farmers do not encroach on existing tracks leading to water sources used by livestock.

Addressing the inauguration, Hon. Timothy Ojoma, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, lauded the Ododo administration’s emphasis on food security, noting that the establishment of the committee could not have come at a more opportune time.

“Food security is key to food sufficiency, and the present administration has made significant investments in agriculture to ensure the people are well-fed,” Ojoma said.

The event also featured a presentation by Dr. Gbenro Olajuyigbe, the Director of Emergency and Risk Alert, who addressed the complex historical, ecological, economic, and political factors contributing to farmer-herder conflicts in the country.

Olajuyigbe recommended the establishment of local government community platforms, the maintenance of conflict diaries, and the set-up of early warning systems to proactively address these tensions.

The 17-member committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Agriculture and includes representatives from the Attah Igala’s palace and other key stakeholders.

With this strategic move, Kogi State aims to foster a collaborative and peaceful environment for both farmers and herders, paving the way for sustainable agricultural development and food security in the region.