Cows in front of the office of Head of Service, Federal Secretariat, Abuja (Photo: Itunu Ajayi)
The new scenario in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja,
however, is that the herdsmen, seemingly uncomfortable in the suburbs,
have moved to the city centre. And they have become more daring, since
the advent of the President Buhari-led administration.
Their cattle now dot the landscape, nibbling away at lawns that
cost millions of naira, and meant for beautification. Sometimes, they
can be found between residential apartments, devouring crops such as
maize planted by house owners as source of extra cash. They also leave
behind mounds of smelly excrement.
Residents appear helpless, as any attempt to challenge the herdsmen
almost certainly results in the cowboys drawing daggers, ready to
slaughter anyone that dares them. Consequently, the aggrieved person
makes a quick calculation between his life’s worth and maize plants, and
chooses to remain silent.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) claims it has
banned grazing within the city centre. The activities of the herdsmen,
however, remain unchecked. From Airport Road to the National Stadium,
and to the National Hospital, cows can be seen in their numbers grazing
unhindered. They also have grazing rights in areas around Ministers’
Hill to Kubwa Expressway.
Indeed, anywhere grass is available, in and around the FCT, is
their grazing zone. The CBN headquarters, the Federal Secretariat, FCDA –
even the premises of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport are all fields for
grazing. The Army also seems helpless, as the premises of its Defense
Headquarters are not spared. Herdsmen and their cattle stray into
security zones, causing traffic gridlocks, leaving behind trails of
dung.
The former Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Engr. John Chukwu, in a
statement issued September 17, 2015, warned herdsmen grazing their
cattle in and around the city to desist or face the full wrath of the
law. The law, sadly, is still bottling its wrath. The statement reads in
part: “Considering the improper grazing of cattle in the city
centre and environs, there is need to halt further public nuisance and
hazards to road users.”
The administration said the practice has adversely affected the
environment and must not be allowed to continue, stressing that Abuja is
the capital of Nigeria and the window through which the world views the
country. The statement noted that Abuja city is not meant for cattle
grazing because there are designated areas for such activities in the
Abuja Master Plan.
Though Chukwu’s threat was not the first, he gave a directive to
the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), to ensure full
compliance. But close to a year, since the directive was issued, the
agency still has its arms folded. Its excuse is that non-availability of
mobile courts has prevented it from performing its statutory functions.
Part of the agency’s mandate is: control stray animals within the
Territory, in line with the AEPB Act of 1997.
AEPB’s Acting Director, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, was “not on seat” when The Guardian visited the office. She did not pick her calls or respond to text messages.
A source at the agency, however, said the environmental watchdog is
handicapped, as cattle arrested in the past were bailed by some big men
in town. The source said staff of the agency are constantly attacked by
the herdsmen and have often been cut with machetes.
“We all know these cows belong to rich people. You can’t
imagine the calibre of people that come around to bail them when we make
arrests. It is a shame. Our staff are being careful. Nobody wants to
die on this job. We don’t carry arms. So, imagine us confronting these
people with poison-tipped daggers and other weapons. I don’t know what
we can do. Honestly, we are in a serious trouble. Considering the status
of the FCT, they mess up the entire city with dung and it’s so annoying
and irritating.”
Due to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the
country, there have been calls for a Grazing Reserve Bill that would
allow cattle owners to build ranches, thereby discouraging free-range
cattle rearing. To this end, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in
collaboration with some Portuguese partners, did a ground breaking of a
50-tonne/per hour animal feed. With another 20-tonne/per hour plant in
Yola, Atiku said his desire is to have the factories in zones across the
country. This move, he believes, will end the spate of conflicts
between herdsmen and farmers.
Finding herdsmen and their cattle in the FCT is a piece of cake.
Some of them are as young as seven-years-old and may be male or female.
The Guardian engaged one along Airport Road with the help of an
interpreter. The herder insisted money is exchanged before he would
talk. When he realised nothing of such would happen, he began a rant in
his dialect. The name ‘Buhari’ was the only thing the reporter made out.
Culled from: The Guardian
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