Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has expressed reservation over the suspension of the Ruga settlement scheme by the Federal Government, saying the state would go ahead with the scheme.
The governor stated this after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.
Buhari had on Wednesday suspended the`Ruga Settlement’ Programme initiated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in preference for the National Economic Council’s National Livestock Transformation Plan.
Yahaya, who spoke in Hausa language said, “President Buhari’s intention on the Ruga settlement scheme is laudable and the people of Gombe, who are predominantly Fulanis will definitely key into it.
“As I speak to you now, Gombe state government has set aside over 200,000 hectares of land for the implementation of the Ruga Settlement scheme in the state.
“So, because some states rejected the scheme doesn’t mean that Gombe state will not go ahead to implement it.
“Till now, I don’t want to believe that the pilot scheme has been suspended. We are going to continue with it, because to us it’s a very good initiative in view of the hardship our people (herdsmen) are now facing.
“We need to find a lasting solution to their predicaments so as to save their lives because they are Nigerians too,” he said.
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