Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has begged the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), FCT Chapter, not to move cows into the Capital City during the inauguration of the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This came as the herdsmen have promised that no cows will be seen loitering the streets of Abuja, during the forthcoming Presidential inauguration scheduled to take place at the Eagle Square on May 29, 2023.
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This came up at a meeting, which was held between the AEPB, and the MACBAN at the Corporate Headquarters of the Agency.
The director of AEPB, Engr Osi Braimah, said the meeting was called to rob minds with leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, FCT Chapter, whom he described as partners, on finding a lasting solution to the intractable problem of cattle grazing in the territory.
“As we all know that cattle grazing in the Federal Capital City ( FCC), is against the law, and in a bid to resolve the problem, quarterly meetings are held to address the matter.
“It is more pressing now, because in about a week’s time, the entire world will be focused not just on Nigeria, but on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, the venue of the inauguration of Nigeria’s President-elect, which will host over 47 Presidents and heads of states and other important dignitaries across the globe, hence the need to keep the city very clean and to ensure that no cow is seen grazing in the FCC and its environs,” he said.
“We have so far had a very encouraging resolution and gotten the assurances of both the chairman of the FCT chapter and the chairman of the AMMAC branch of the association. It is agreed that it is indeed unsightly to behold cows walking side by side with humans in a modern city like Abuja. They promised to meet immediately with herders in their association across the territory to ensure compliance with the law during the inauguration and beyond, to ensure that now cow is seen loitering on the street,” he added.
Braimah also warned that any herder seen flouting the law will be arrested with their cattle by a combined team of AEPB enforcement officers and Law enforcement agencies like the Police and the rest, already on ground. He revealed that AEPB is doing its very best to keep the city very clean in preparation for the inauguration and beyond, keeping to the very high standards it has set for itself and justifying the tremendous support given to it by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.
Responding, Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, FCT chapter, Alhaji Usman Muhammad said the meeting is not only timely but also strategic because it provided the opportunity for their concerns to be brought to the attention of the FCT minister.
“It is our culture to receive a visitor in a very clean and tidy environment and in this case, the in-coming government is the visitor. We promise to clear and clean the city for the government that we elected. We will help to ensure that no cow is seen loitering the city of Abuja for the big day,” Usman said, recalling that he is one of the members of the committee that held a meeting with the FCT minister and some investors from Russia that showed interest in investing in improved cattle rearing in the FCT for greater profit, which has the potential to generate revenues for both the FCT Administration and the local cattle rearers and also introduce herders to modern methods of cattle rearing. He said he is hoping to get feedback from the FCT administration on the way forward.
He appealed to the incoming government to come to their aid, as cattle rustling remains a big threat, stating that over 300 cows were stolen from his brother last week.
The chairman of the AMAC branch of the association Alhaji Adamu Rabo, promised to immediately take the message to every herder in his domain on the need to cooperate with the government to ensure that the inauguration is peaceful and successful.