The National Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Kiruwa Zuru Saturday declared that the area now designated as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was initially designated as grazing reserve and since its take-over by the Federal Government no replacement has been provided. 

 The MACBAN leader during interactive session with journalists in Birnin Kebbi however declared support for Federal Government’s efforts to  find a permanent solution to the recurring clashes between farmers and herdsmen, but noted that other grazing reserves that has been  taken over for physical development without any replacement.

 According to him,  the Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, the state-owned Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport located in Ambursa and  the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja were all demarcated as grazing reserves initially.

 ``In 1965, there were 485 grazing reserves out of which only 115 were functional, the remaining ones served as reserve forests.
``We urge government to hasten converting them into grazing reserves,’’ he said.

 ``The association has resolved to support any move that would bring permanent solution to the violence between communities and herdsmen,’’ 
Zuru added while urging the Federal Government to hasten creation and demarcation of grazing reserves and cattle ranches to control the 
movement of the herdsmen seeking pasture for their livestock.

 He further noted that other means of curtailing the movement of the herdsmen would be for the Federal Government to enhance the  quality of existing grazing reserves by providing water and pasture.

 While  lamenting  the incessant rustling of the herdsmen’s cattle by criminals, he stressed that law abiding cattle breeders had lost an estimated 35 million cows to cattle rustlers.

 He also called for the establishment of a committee consisting of all tribes that would campaign on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.

 The chairman described the media as a veritable tool for national development and counselled journalists to always verify their  facts before publication. ``Fair, balanced and objective reporting by the media will promote our unity in diversity, the absence of which will certainly polarise the nation,’’ Zuru said.