The Federal Government has come out to say that the plan to retrace and recover grazing routes across Nigeria still stands.

FG recently revealed that the move is meant to address the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

According to the acting Director, Animal Husbandry Department, FMARD, Winnie Lai-Solarin, there will be no going back on the plan, so citizens should not expect the government to relent.

She, however added that FG will not retrace stock routes where there are infrastructures that are for the public good.

Her words, “There are some stock routes that we have across the country, and in the past, we had monuments along these stock routes, particularly the primary stock routes.”

“And in the course of farming or other human activities along those stock routes, the monuments were altered, but we know where they are. So we are saying that some of them can be retraced.”

“And this is particularly for areas that are not encroached upon as of now. The pastoralists know the routes, and on some of those routes, you will see the pieces of the monuments along them.”

“So for those that are not encroached upon and are not in conflict zones, we will go ahead to retrace and guide the pastoralists along them. We didn’t get to where we are today in one day and so we cannot expect that every pastoralist should suddenly start ranching now.”

“Some would still have to move but let’s keep the movement as safe as possible and in areas that are not conflict zones. That is what I am saying. We are not going to retrace stock routes where there are infrastructures that are for the public good.”

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