A PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF RUGA SETTLEMENT IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In Nigeria the practice of preserving land for exclusive use by livestock existed prior to colonial times. Allocation of
grazing grounds to pastoralists around towns and villages for use particularly during the cultivation season were
socially sanctioned (Waters-Bayer and Taylor-Powell, 1986). However, since there was no legal instrument to prevent
encroachment by crop farmers, such reserved areas subsequently disappeared with increasing population and
cropping intensity.
This phenomenon was most visible in the subhumid zone of Nigeria where pastoralists from the semiarid zone further
north traditionally moved to exploit dry-season pastures. Additionally, improved veterinary services and tsetse control
and eradication campaigns have resulted in an expanding ruminant livestock population in the subhumid zone itself and in restricting pastoralists’ access
to the grazing lands (Waters-Bayer and Taylor-Powell, 1986). Combined with
this, the greater preference afforded to local (i.e. subhumid zone) farmers’ livestock both for grazing and water has
contributed to the further reduction of the resources available (Kjenstad, 1988)
The cultivators among whom the pastoralists now live were traditionally subsistence farmers with extensive swidden
(slash and burn) agriculture. They kept very few livestock, mostly small trypanotolerant breeds of goats and sheep.
Although sleeping-sickness is generally cited as the reason for the sparse population of the zone, it is now recognized
that the high labour inputs required for cultivation also deterred settlement. Farming systems are marked by a wide
diversity of crops and crop mixtures, often combining cereals, grain legumes and tubers. Compared with the humid
and semiarid zones, regional marketing and long-distance trade were poorly developed.
An unfortunate consequence of this situation is that all the most fertile pockets of land in the zone have been
occupied. Grazing reserves cannot be sited in populated regions without dislocation of indigenous populations and
consequent ill-will. Reserves are necessarily situated in places previously avoided for sound ecological reasons. As
an illustration of this, when ILCA tried to keep cattle permanently on Kachia reserve without supplementation, almost
half the animals suffered severe malnutrition stress because of insufficient and low quality feed that resulted from the
poor nature of the soils.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
But the project is widely seen as a strategic ploy enabling herdsmen to claim subsidised land, in the same areas
where they have caused serious unrest. “The current government wishes to dissolve diversity in favour of an ethnic
programme,” said Odia Ofeimun, a poet and polemicist.
The press secretary to the Benue state government, Terver Akase says open grazing in the state has been phased out: “Anyone who wants to
rear livestock in Benue has to go through the due process.”
That process entails obtaining a licence from the state ministry of agriculture. The federal government must also seek
the state’s permission for land allocation, as required by Nigeria’s 1978 Land Use Act which they did not do. This undermines the government’s separation of powers
and shows serious disregard for Nigeria’s diversity, of nearly 500 ethnic groups.
Pressure from citizens and stakeholders led the government to suspend the Ruga project
This is a problem that policy will not be able to solve without taking into account the region’s cultural history. Nomadic
herdsmen have for thousands of years taken their cattle along routes to more states with better resources. The
cutting of these cultural ties has made the herdsmen feel victimised. They see a threat to their means of survival.
Meanwhile, farmers feel overwhelmed by the volume of cattle.
In light of this challenges little or no research has been carried out on the perception of the people on the ruga
settlement program of the federal Government. So this projects aims to find out the perception of the people of Benue
state on the Ruga settlement.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study is to examine the public perception of the Ruga settlement in Nigeria.
With specific objectives as follows;
- To examine and have an overview of the Rural grazing Area in Nigeria.
- To determine if Ruga would stop herders and farmers clashes in Benue State.
- To determine if there is a misconception of the Ruga programme iin Benue state.
1.4 Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis One
Hi: Ruga would stop herders and farmers clashes in Benue State.
Ho: Ruga would not stop herders and farmers clashes in Benue State.
Hypothesis Two
Hi: There is a misconception of the Ruga programme iin Benue state.
Ho: There is no misconception of the Ruga programme iin Benue state.
1.5 Significance of the study
The ability of the state to resolve or regulate the recurring crises and to create an enabling environment where the
people’s respect and love for their nation is enhanced would definitely affect the tempo of the national integration
positively. Ruga project stemmed from the age-long rivalry with farmers. While herders are feeling relieved from
troubles of farmers, farmers are however feeling cheated by the program because they own the lands. Clashes
between herders and farmers is not a new thing in benue state but little research is been carried out by scholars on
this prominent issue. This study would be useful to government agencies, private individuals and researchers on how
the people view the Ruga Programme in Nigeria.
1.6 Scope and delimitation of the study
The scope of this study is focused on the publics perception of the Ruga settlement in Nigeria a case study of the
Benue state.
The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are
not limited to the following.
a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient,
thereby limiting the study
b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine
other academic activities and examinations with the study.
A PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF RUGA SETTLEMENT IN NIGERIA