Nigerian army set to set up cattle-ranches nationwide.

1. By irredeemable technical knockout, SENATE of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, recently threw out the National Grazing and / or Ranching Reserves Bill, for the simple reason that it is NOT within the competence of the Federal Government / NASS, but exclusively a RESIDUAL (STATES) MATTER.

2. Under what legislative authority then, is Nigerian Army (NA), being a Federal Government Agency / on Federal Exclusive List, now proceeding with Cattle Ranches by whatsoever name?

3. Why the seeming persistence / desparation to get through, by other means, the Grazing / Ranching Bill that has been thrown out by the SENATE?

4. Should land allocated by States to Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, for Military Purposes (Barracks, etc) be diverted to Agriculture / Ranching Use?

5. Even if the Federal Government had the competence to engage in / legislate on Grazing / Ranching Lands (which SENATE has ruled they DONOT have), ADMINISTRATIVELY, should that fall under the purview of Ministry of Defence / Armed Forces, NOT Agriculture?

6. What is the wisdom or necessity in Ministry of Defence / Armed Forces leaving their exclusive core business / mandate, viz defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and aiding civil authority in internal security operations in which they already seem overstretched (in view of our various security challenges), to compete with state civil ministries in agriculture / livestock business?

7. By dragging the Nigerian Army into Grazing / Ranching, which has caused much bloodshed and forceful occupation of natives’ land inheritance, are we not furthering the prospects of their being compromised to take sides with herdsmen against native communities and customary land owners?

8. What really is the object of public policy?

‘NO TO GRAZING / RANCHING RESERVES BY OTHER MEANS’!