Rivers govt rejects RUGA settlements

Rivers State Government has some of the states that have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed Ruga settlement stating that it will not participate in the planned settlements for herdsmen.

The Government in a statement Tuesday, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim noted that the state has no land for the implementation of such a policy.

It noted that in his second term of Governor Nyesom Wike has prioritised commercial agriculture, hence all available arable land in the state would be needed to drive commercial agriculture across the state to create employment for Rivers youths.

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The State Government emphasised that it has not given any approval for the siting of Ruga settlements anywhere in Rivers State. It added that no such approval will come from the Rivers State Government for the Ruga settlements.

The statement reiterated that the Governor would continue to defend the interest of Rivers people, who have overwhelmingly rejected Cattle Colonies, Ruga Settlements and any such policy.

“Rivers indigenes are hereby advised to join the State Government to protect all arable lands by reporting any form of encroachment under whatever guise”, the statement added.