From: Segun Babatunde in Bauchi (04/07/2020)
Bauchi State Governors, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has set up a 19 -member committee to find solutions to land disputes and rescue Forest reserves in the state as a result of encroachment and illegal allocation.
The Governor disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after meeting with the Caretaker Chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.
Governor Bala Mohammed said the committee is expected to come up with solutions driven by best practice in terms of geographic information system and land management.
He expressed confidence that the recommendations of the committee will bring to an end, the current herders and farmers conflicts not only in the state but in the country in general.
The Governor said already his administration has established an administrative framework aimed at fostering peace and tranquility to ensure peaceful coexistence in the society.
” Following the recent clashes in Misau Local Government Area which resulted to the deaths of a number of people and looking at the issues of land in the state generally, we have agreed to set up a 19 member committee to visit Villages and wards in the twenty local government ares to ensure the establishment of cattle routes and rescue reserves from illegal allocation. All the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas are coopted members of the committee.
” Terms of reference of the committee are to visit all the 20 Local Government Areas particularly, Government Reserve in the state with the aim of ascertaining their sanctity, investigate and determine if such Government Reserve Areas are being illegally allocated by unauthorized persons or group of persons and those who are beneficiaries of such allocations and to determine the cattle routes within the Forest Reserve and identify areas of portions of encroachment by farmers.
Other terms of reference according to Governor Bala Mohammed is to make recommendations on measures to be taken that will promote permanent resolution of herder/farmer clashes across the state.
The Governor who announced Alhaji Yahaya Baba, former Surveyor General in the state as chairman, said the committee will submit its report within 4 weeks from the date of inauguration. END