The best way to improve the quality of lives of Fulani in Nigeria and address security problems in parts of the country is to ban their seasonal movement to central and southern Nigeria, governor of Kano State, Mr Abdullahi Ganduje, has said.

The governor said yesterday that only by settling them in the North can their socio-economic wellbeing be enhanced and protected.

Ganduje said this in Sokoto while answering questions on Federal Government’s suspension of Ruga programme.

He spoke after attending the wedding ceremony of Mr Ibrahim Khalil, son of Mr Kabiru Gaya, a former Kano State governor and serving senator.

“There is no better way to improve their lives if you don’t prevent their migration from the North to Central and Southern parts of Nigeria.

“That movement should be banned, otherwise the Fulani would continue to suffer and the security problem in the country would continue,” he said.

He explained that Ruga was for individual states that can cater for the Fulanis and where herdsmanship should be a socio-economic issue not a socio-cultural issue.

“We cannot ask a state to implement Ruga where the indigenes are not Fulani. It is for states that can cater to the Fulani and improve their herdsmanship,’’ he said.

According to him, there is no better way to resettle Fulani than through Ruga.

“That is why we are developing grazing area or Ruga in Kano State so that the Fulani can be in one place, they can be educated and enjoy all the social services like other people of the state, including health, justice and security. So that the type of herdsmanship they are doing will be improved and they can produce more cows, more milk and prosper economically,” he said.

Ganduje noted with dismay the way the Fulani were being treated in the country, just as he expressed displeasure with some of them who went into banditry.

Reacting to comments by the governor, a national official of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said the call was premature as a national development plan on the matter was being worked out by Federal Government.

The official, who pleaded anonymity, said the association supports the modernisation of the cattle-rearing system, adding that migration should be allowed until the development plan was implemented.

According to him, most lands in the North and the central parts of Nigeria were being taken by Fadama farming methods and there were less grazing lands.

“If migration is banned now, what does he [Ganduje] has to offer?” he asked.

Daily Trust