Kelechi Kas
Rivers State Government, on Tuesday, stated that it will not participate in the Federal Government’s Ruga Settlements for Fulani herdsmen.
This comes as five South-eastern states, Ondo and Benue also rejected the federal government’s plan to set up the Fulani villages in their domains.
The State Government in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim, stated that the state has no land for the implementation of such a policy.
Nsirim explained that the second term of Governor Wike Nyesom has prioritised commercial agriculture, hence all available arable land in the state will be needed to drive commercial agriculture across the state to create employment for Rivers youths.
Nsirim emphasised that the state government has not given any approval to site Ruga settlements anywhere in the State.
He added that no such approval will come from the Rivers State Government for the Ruga settlements.
He reiterated that Governor Nyesom Wike will continue to defend the interest of Rivers people, who have overwhelmingly rejected Cattle Colonies, Ruga Settlements and any such policy.
He advised indigenes of the state to join the State Government in protecting all arable lands by reporting any form of encroachment under whatever guise.
