The Federal Government, on Tuesday, announced its plan to initiate the Pulaku Initiative, a comprehensive resettlement program aimed at tackling the underlying factors contributing to frequent conflicts between farmers and herders in various volatile areas across the country.
Pulaku, also called the “Fulani code of conduct,” is an integral cultural and ethical value system specific to the Fulani.
The prolonged farmer-herder crisis, particularly prevalent in the North-Central region, has persisted for more than two decades, resulting in the loss of over 60,000 lives since 2001.
The program will initially target seven states that have been disproportionately affected by conflicts between farmers and herders.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, issued on Tuesday, the selected states are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna.
The statement, titled ‘Pulaku Initiative set for kick-off as VP Shettima inaugurates implementation committee,’ outlined the details of the initiative.
Tuesday’s announcement comes eight months after Vice President Kashim Shettima announced plans by the President Bola Tinubu administration to “unveil an initiative to address insurgency and poverty, among other challenges confronting Nigerians, especially those living in the northern region.”
While on condolence visits to the families of Galadanci and Mangal in Kano and Katsina, respectively, on July 16, 2023, Shettima told journalists that military offensives alone could not sustainably resolve the security crisis in Nigeria’s North-West.
“Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, there cannot be a military solution to the crisis in the northwest. There has to be a kinetic and non-kinetic solution,” he stated.
About eight months later, the VP inaugurated a steering committee to coordinate the implementation of the initiative.
Speaking at the inauguration of the implementation committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, the VP explained, “The selection of these states is a deliberate and strategic approach. The aim is to generate ripple effects that will not only revitalise communities but also lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and cohesive Nigeria.”
He stated that the Federal Government would rejuvenate communities affected by conflict by building houses, roads, schools, and necessary infrastructure.
As a result, the Vice President emphasized that the project should be treated as an urgent matter to address a challenge that has endangered Nigeria’s cohesion.
“It serves as a testament to the fulfilment of the promises made by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The aim is to create an environment where the prosperity of our people is not just a distant dream but a tangible and achievable reality.
“This comprehensive approach reflects our dedication to fostering sustainable development and improving the lives of all citizens,” Shettima said.
He assured citizens that the initiative would address “a challenge that has persisted across various generations and demands our collective resolve, our optimum sense of justice, and unconditional compassion.”
“This is not merely a response; it is a call to action. We are here because each of our programmes or policies will falter unless we get to the root of the dysfunctions we have inherited,” he added.
He described the Pulaku resettlement as “a national commitment to confront a threat that has fuelled distrust and conflicts within communities and across the boundaries of our federation.
“This non-kinetic solution is not designed to compensate any particular group or region. Therefore, we must cast aside any notion of divisive regionalism and see the Pulaku initiative for what it truly is—a practical response to a shared challenge.”
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who spoke to journalists afterwards, announced the launch date saying, “This programme will certainly start in the next two weeks from the meeting. Houses will be built. Schools will be built. Hospitals will be built and there will be support for those affected by insecurity.”
He said, “Our farmers would be very highly assisted. This is one way of assuring them of the security apparatus that the Federal Government is putting in place.
“We have relative peace now, but remember that this insecurity is onion-layered. But if we move into full investment in agriculture, as this programme is intended to do, that’s going to curtail the insecurity we’ve been experiencing. Those who have been displaced are also going to have their own abode.”
Chaired by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, the committee includes representatives from the governors of the states benefiting from the initiative.
Additionally, members of the committee comprise the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as well as representatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BUA Group, Dangote Group, and the Director-General of NEMA.