Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has assured that his administration will implement the controversial Fulani cattle settlement, known as Ruga, in the state.

He told State House correspondents after a participating in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja at the weekend that there was no question about his government’s resolve to set up the venture.

The Governor explained that the state will adopt the measure as a strategy to address farmers/herders clashes and other development challenges in the state.

Matawalle, elected under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said: “In Zamfara, we will adopt Ruga in our strategy to address the herders/farmers crisis.

“It is a developmental project on ranch and we are ready for it.”

Also speaking with State House correspondents, Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong, assured that efforts are on to tackle the insecurity in the North.

He recalled that as the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, he has already set up a committee to convene a regional summit on insecurity.

Lalong said action was also being taken to address the poor state of education in the area.

The Plateau Governor added: “Very soon, I will convene the northern summit for us to collectively discuss because at the northern governors forum I have already set up a committee chaired by the governor of Katsina to look at generally insecurity in the north.

“We also set up another committee to look at education in the north and then the prospect of an economic summit for North.”

He pointed out that the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) was putting efforts to resolve the numerous challenges facing the country.

He said the recent presidential policy dialogue convened by the President was part of the measures to provide solutions to the problems.

He stated: “These were done by the party and Mr President to prepare the president for the inauguration of his federal executive council members.

“Many of us are also going to copy the same and take it home as many of us have not even set up our cabinets. So, we are also going to do the same and transfer it to our various states.”

On the political will to implement the resolutions of the dialogue session and other policies, the Governor said that it was to find solutions that the dialogue was held.

According to him, “they provided the platform and said, Mr President, let us prepare you for your executive and you monitor the implementation and the party said, let all the governors come and learn. We are here and we have learned.

“At the federal executive council, at national economic council, we will continue to push for the implementation. It is not our duty but we are also heads of our states. Therefore, once Mr President pulls the trigger, we will support him and we will also replicate it in our various states.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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