The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a steering committee to implement its ‘Pulaku Initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of farmer–herder clashes in the country.
Under the initiative, the government will construct houses, roads, schools and provide essential facilities in seven pilot states— Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who performed the ceremony in Abuja, explained that Pulaku represented one of the ways through which President Tinubu desires to fulfil his promise to improve the lives of all Nigerians.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa chairs the committee, which has representatives of governors of the benefiting states as some of the members.
Others include Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari; representatives of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director- General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), BUA Group, Dangote Group and the Director-General of the National Emergency Agency(NEMA).
Shettima, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, said Pulaku should be seen as an emergency to tackle a challenge that has threatened the fabric of Nigeria.
The statement partly reads: “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.
“The initiative will 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 but 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.”
Explaining the idea of focusing on the seven states, the Vice President said, “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.”
Shettima explained that the Pulaku resettlement is “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,” he added.
Urging all stakeholders to embrace the initiative, he said, “Let our legacy be measured not in the structures we build but in the lives we uplift, the unity we restore, and the collective strength of a nation rising above its challenges.”
The inauguration of the committee was witnessed by Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Uba Sani (Kaduna) Mohammed Bago (Niger), Nasir Idris (Kebbi ), Dikko Radah (Katsina) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
Others were EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede; Director-General of NEMA Ahmed Habib; and Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Mamman Ahmadu.
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