Yekeen Nurudeen
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Muhammad Bello has disclosed that most of those engaged in cattle rustling in different parts of the country are aliens from neighbouring countries.
He made this disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday when he received members of the National Implementation Committee for the Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria led by its chairman, AIG Charles Ugomuoh when they visited his office.
The Minister therefore challenged the Committee to evolve a robust mechanism to track all the cattle coming in from neighbouring countries.
Read Also:
- Why Nigeria’s insecure forests are fertile ground for cattle rustlers
- Thirty-seven Senate committees delay 2019 budget passage
- Senate confirms chairman, board members of North East Development Commission
- https://www.icirnigeria.org/itll-be-near-impossible-for-people-like-me-to-be-nigerias-president-says-tope-fasua/
- NFF to the rescue as ex-Eagles player, coach, Christian Chukwu battles life-threatening ailment
He noted that all such cattle could be tracked from the border thereby reducing friction often generated by their activities in the hinterland,which can also be used for statistical purposes.
“It would be a good idea for your Committee to set up a robust mechanism to track all those coming across the border even for statistical purposes.” He said.
Bello reiterated that majority of cattle rustling activities are being perpetuated by those coming from the neighbouring countries, hence the need for their actions to be nipped in the bud.
He urged the Implementation Committee to take advantage of technology to track them and ensure that the herders pay for such services.
“The Implementation Committee needs to capture them by creating a data base with their names and identity because nobody can move in other countries without identity.
“The policy if well harnessed will go a long way to help reduce problems associated with cattle rustling in the country and make people to continue to live in peace and prosperity,” he stressed.
The Minister called on the Committee to work in concert with existing committees in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory for greater understanding and better results.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the National Implementation Committee on the Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria, Ugomuoh, remarked that they were in FCT for advocacy visit.
Ogomuoh stated that cattle rustling in Nigeria has come with adverse economic and security implications, including a negative consequences on the National Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
It may be recalled that the Minister recently set up similar committee consisting of 22 members on cattle grazing and rustling in the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaiye and other officials of the FCT Administration joined the Minister to receive the delegation.