Receiving Governor Simon Lanlong of Plateau State in Abuja, the minister stated that the policy would not in any way transfer communal land ownership to the nomads. Highlighting the merit of the proposal over ranching, Ogbeh said it was a strategic measure to curb the avoidable bloodletting in the country. The clarification follows the outrage and speculation that there was an ulterior motive to tacitly encourage land grabbing.His words: “There is no truth in the speculation that government was conspiring to grant supremacy over communal land to Fulani herdsmen. “Cattle colony is not using Fulani herdsmen to colonise any state. Assuming it is true that 16 unnamed states of the federation are willing to provide lands for cattle colonies, it falls short of the required two-thirds majority of each floor of the National Assembly as well as state assemblies for such a policy to be initiated.”

Source: The Guardian January 12, 2018 04:30 UTC