The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, on Sunday officially commissioned a Fulani Rural Grazing Area initiative Settlement in Nguru Local Government Area.
The settlement, established by philanthropist Balarabe Abdullahi, widely known as Balarabe DJ, aims to reduce violent clashes between farmers and herders.
The Ruga community is equipped with essential social and economic amenities, including two-bedroom residential homes, a school, a shopping centre, a primary healthcare facility, potable water, electricity, and a mosque, designed to provide herders with a safe and sustainable living environment.
Speaking at the commissioning, Buni emphasised that the project would help curb open grazing, which often results in farmland destruction.
He added that the modern settlement would support the integration of pastoralists into the broader society while improving their access to education and healthcare.
The governor also encouraged other public-spirited individuals to emulate Alhaji Abdullahi’s efforts in promoting peace and development.
“The school, clinic, healthcare facility, and housing provided for the Ruga settlement are commendable. We appreciate his contributions on behalf of the people of Nguru, Yobe State, and Nigeria,” he said.
Alhaji Abdullahi explained that the initiative was specifically designed to reduce conflicts by providing designated grazing areas for herders.
In 2025, several northern states, including Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, mapped out large swathes of land for the National Livestock Transformation Plan, popularly known as the RUGA, to take off.
This was a move to address the farmer-herder conflict and boost food production, complementing the Federal Government’s livestock production plans.
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