Plateau lawmakers reject grazing reserve policy

Lalong promises land titles approval without hindrance

The senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang and the member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Istifanus Gyang, have in separate statements rejected grazing reserve policy, describing it as anti-people.

In the statement signed by Mr. Clinton Garuba, an aide to Jang, the senator said: “For the Federal Government, which owns no cattle to connive with willing state governors to impose a grazing reserve policy on helpless citizens who have suffered the brunt of rampaging herdsmen in recent past, is not only an abuse of their rights, but an assault on their already battered psyche; and this must be vehemently resisted.”

Jang said his position on grazing reserve policy remains the same both on the floor of the Senate and at any other forum that Plateau people have no land to cede the Federal Government or any group for grazing.

“As a people, who have experienced the atrocities of those who seek to take over their land by whatever means, Plateau people must be resilient in rejecting any law or request that seeks to tamper with their heritage, not even the involvement of the government of the day should deter them”, he said.

Gyang, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Chuwang Dungs, cautioned Lalong against taking actions that would be regretted in the long-run, noting that it could plunge the state into crisis in the aftermath.

He warned that no portion of lands within his constituency should be gazette for such grazing plan because his people vehemently disagree with it.

Gyang said: “The Federal Government being aware that it has no constitutional powers to administer land matters, has resorted to the powers vested on governors under Section 2 of the Land Use Act embedded in Section 315 (5d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by seeking the consent and approval of willing governors to allocate land within their states for the implementation of the grazing reserve policy.

“My take on this matter as it relates to Plateau State, especially the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency which I represent, is this: my constituency is just recovering from over a decade of violent attacks, and our lands are still under forceful occupation by herdsmen. The constituency or any part thereof cannot be within the contemplation of housing a grazing reserve.”

In another development, the state governor, Simon Lalong, has promised that he would make sure land titles are obtained without hindrance and much stress, saying the process would not be circumvented.

He stated this on the occasion of the commissioning of the Plateau Geographic Information System (PLAGIS) at the Ministry of Lands Survey and Town at the weekend.

According to the governor: “Titles must be obtained without hindrance and processes must not be circumvented. All complaints by citizens must be treated justly and given equal access to the benefits we have envisioned for our people with this project. I dare say that all who fall short of this declaration, do not share in our rescue mission and would not be spared.”

He, therefore, tasked all personnel in the land administration to be up and doing by shunning all practices that may constitute a clog in the wheel of progress and to eschew all corrupt tendencies in keeping with the change mantra.