The federal government is preparing to launch the ‘Pulaku Initiative,’ a large-scale resettlement program aimed at addressing the underlying causes of farmer-herder conflicts and promoting national unity.
In line with this, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima inaugurated a steering committee on Tuesday to oversee the initiative’s implementation, fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the lives of all Nigerians.
The committee, chaired by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, comprises representatives from the governors of affected states and other key stakeholders, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and representatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), BUA Group, Dangote Group, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), among others.
Speaking during the committee’s inauguration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Vice President emphasized the urgent need to address the challenge threatening Nigeria’s unity. He underscored the initiative’s commitment to sustainable development and improving citizens’ lives, describing it as a call to action to tackle deep-rooted dysfunctions inherited by successive generations.
The Pulaku initiative will initially concentrate on seven states most affected by farmer-herder conflicts: Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna. It aims to rejuvenate these communities by constructing residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities.
Explaining the rationale behind focusing on these states, the Vice President emphasized the strategic approach aimed at generating ripple effects to revitalize communities and foster inclusivity and cohesion across Nigeria.
VP Shettima emphasized that the Pulaku resettlement represents a national commitment to address a threat that has fueled distrust and conflicts within communities and across the nation’s boundaries. He emphasized that the initiative is not intended to favor any particular group or region but is a practical response to a shared challenge, calling on stakeholders to embrace it wholeheartedly.
Present at the meeting were representatives from various Nigerian states and institutions, including Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Sen. Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Alhaji Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Alhaji Dikko Radah of Katsina State, and Alhaji Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, along with government ministers and representatives from Dangote Group, BUA Group, Shelter Afrique, EFCC, NEMA, and BPP.