A former ambassador and permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has said private sector investment in grazing reserves will end farmers/herdsmen clashes in the country.

Gambari, who expressed his views in a public lecture in the University of Uyo titled, ‘Violent conflicts, conflict resolution and peace-building: Global best practices and new perspectives on farmers/herders clashes in Nigeria,’ said his recommendations were based on his experiences while in Zimbabwe.

He said, “The best way to look at how you respond to conflict is to see it as a spectrum from prevention to peace consolidation. Our population is growing and the proportion of land available for cultivation is declining. If we don’t address the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, we are going to have this problem not only in Nigeria but elsewhere.

“The traditional institutions of managing conflict are very low-key but very effective; we don’t put value on them and I am suggesting we look at what worked in the past.

“Criminals have taken advantage of the situation. In the old times, when did you see a Fulani man carry AK47? They carried their stick but now, some of them carry AK47. So criminality, banditry, proliferation of small arms and light weapons in this country is frightening, you see guns coming in, no control. People used to resolve conflict by simple methods like talking but now they resort to violence because they have the guns.”

He added, “I want to suggest that this issue of grazing reserves deserves a lot more examination. First, let it be private sector-led, willing seller, willing buyer and I recommend that because of my experience in Zimbabwe.” – Punch

– Aug. 27, 2018 @ 9:55 GMT |