Cattle Policies: PSA UK Demands Inclusive Dialogue With Affected Communities

Cattle Policies: PSA UK Demands Inclusive Dialogue With Affected Communities

The Plateau State Association United Kingdom (PSA UK) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the proposed National Ranching Policy and subject it to broad-based consultation, warning that policies affecting land, livestock and agriculture must not be implemented without adequately considering the concerns of affected communities.

The association made the call in a statement signed by its President, Dr. Solomon Chollom, amid growing concerns over the Federal Government’s livestock development policies and their potential implications for peace, security and social cohesion, particularly in the Middle Belt.

PSA UK urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that national agricultural and livestock policies do not create the impression that the interests of one sector or group are being prioritised over the security, land rights, dignity and livelihoods of other Nigerians.

The association also called on the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to suspend further implementation of the proposed National Ranching Policy and embark on what it described as “robust community engagement, rigorous policy analysis and a comprehensive assessment” of the policy’s potential impact.

According to Chollom, communities across the Middle Belt have endured years of violence, displacement and destruction of homes, farms and livelihoods, making any policy involving land and cattle production particularly sensitive.

“For people who have lost relatives, homes and access to ancestral farmlands, policies involving land for cattle production are not merely economic policies,” he stated.

“They raise deeply sensitive questions about security, ownership, justice, rehabilitation, return and the future of their communities.”

The PSA UK President expressed concern that the unresolved plight of displaced communities, including their calls for the reclamation of ancestral lands, rehabilitation and safe return, should be addressed before introducing policies that could further heighten tensions.

He noted that successive administrations had introduced different livestock-related initiatives, including cattle colonies, RUGA, ranching and livestock settlements.

“Changing the name of a policy does not automatically remove the fears of the people,” Chollom said.

The association stressed that democratic governance requires consultation and meaningful participation of citizens whose lives and property may be directly affected by government policies.

“Democracy is not about government simply announcing a policy and expecting communities to accept it without question,” it stated.

“Listening to the people is not weakness. Engagement is not surrender. Consultation is the very foundation of democratic governance.”

PSA UK questioned what it described as the overwhelming emphasis on cattle development, arguing that Nigeria’s agricultural potential extends beyond livestock.

The association said millions of Nigerians depend on poultry farming, fish farming, crop production, potato cultivation, tubers, cereals and other agricultural value chains, which also require government attention and investment.

It asked the Federal Government to provide comparable support for poultry production, fish farming, potato and vegetable value chains, tubers and root crops, cereals and grains, smallholder farmers, food processing and storage, agricultural technology and irrigation.

“Food security cannot be built around one sector alone,” the association maintained.

It argued that a truly national agricultural policy should recognise the diversity of Nigeria’s regions and support agricultural practices in which communities have developed experience, expertise and comparative advantage.

The association further urged the Federal Government to take regional realities, environmental conditions, local expertise and traditional farming practices into consideration when formulating agricultural policies.

It called for the involvement of state governments, local communities, farmers, traditional institutions, agricultural experts and other stakeholders in determining sustainable agricultural development priorities.

“Let Plateau develop and expand the agricultural sectors in which its people have expertise and comparative advantage. Let other regions equally develop the sectors best suited to their environment and economic realities,” PSA UK said.

The association also warned against policies that could create the perception of favouritism by giving extensive support to one category of agricultural enterprise while farmers in other sectors struggle to access land, capital, infrastructure and other basic support.

“Every Nigerian farmer deserves the opportunity to succeed,” it stated, stressing that government support must be equitable and serve the broad interests of Nigerians.

PSA UK therefore called for the proposed National Ranching Policy to be suspended and subjected to a holistic review through transparent and inclusive community engagement.

It demanded that government should directly engage affected communities and stakeholders, conduct comprehensive social, economic, security and environmental assessments, and address the concerns of communities displaced by years of violence.

The association also called for respect for constitutional and land rights, alongside the dignity of all communities.

It further demanded a balanced national agricultural policy that supports livestock alongside crop production, poultry, fisheries and other critical agricultural value chains.

PSA UK warned that no agricultural policy should become a source of further conflict, suspicion or division.

“Nigeria does not need policies that deepen existing fears. Nigeria needs policies that build trust,” Chollom said.

He stressed that the people were not opposed to agriculture or development but wanted to be heard, respected, consulted and protected.

“A government that listens before it acts will earn the trust of its people. A government that carries communities along will build lasting peace,” he said.

Chollom urged the Federal Government to “pause, listen, engage and review,” arguing that development without justice could not constitute genuine progress.

“Because development without justice is not progress and agriculture without inclusion is not sustainable,” he added.

The association concluded that any policy that ignores the fears, security and dignity of the people cannot deliver lasting peace.

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