Youths in Plateau State have warned the state government not to designate any land in the state as grazing reserves.
The youths, under the aegis of Plateau G-17 Youths for Peace and Progress Forum, said that the proposed grazing reserves were not in the interest of the people of the state.
The group, who staged a protest at the Plateau State Government House on Monday, asked Governor Simon Lalong to delist the state from the states said to have contributed land for grazing reserves in the state.
The Converner of the protest, Mr. Dachung Bagos, advised the governor to be careful not to take a decision that would mortgage the future of generations yet unborn with the likely consequences of further throwing the state into a state of chaos as the policy had been rejected by majority of the people of the state.
Bagos said, “We therefore wish to state, unequivocally that we stand here today, in protest against any form of land grabbing and exclusive privileges to any group, under the guise of a government, sponsored grazing reserve policy.
“The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh, came out with a list of 11 states including the FCT, saying that the states had agreed to contribute lands for the purpose of the establishment of grazing reserves for cattle herders and Plateau State was listed as one of the states that have indicated interest in providing land.
He said, “From time immemorial through the period of agriculture to the period of industrial development, land has remained the most valuable property in the life of a man and his development. It is a source of wealth to those who have it and the mother of all properties.” – Punch.
