EASTERN FARMERS DEMAND N9 BILLION COMPENSATION FROM FG. PETITION OHANEZE/GOVs
EASTERN FARMERS DEMAND N9 BILLION COMPENSATION FROM FG. PETITION OHANEZE/GOVs
BY OKEY MADUFORO
AWKA
Farmers in the old Eastern region of Nigeria has lamented the neglect by the federal government over the loses incurred as a result of the destruction of their crops by Herdsmen in the area.
To this end the farmers under the umbrella of Eastern Farmers Association EFA are demanding financial compensation from the federal government to the tune of N9 billion.
According to the petition signed by its Coordinator Mr Paul Achalla and the Secretary General Mrs Nneka Orji and made available to reporters in Awka Anambra state, the body said.
Since the advent of the Fulani Herdsmen in the Eastern region, the federal government has been paying lip service to the monumental destruction of our crops and farm lands and the only interest government has is on securing the Herdsmen and paying compensation for their cattles without recourse to what they did to our farms.
Even our state governments pay compensations for cows killed by villagers and including them in several security committees and leaving us to our fate.
So far we have lost over N9 billion as a result of the activities of the Herdsmen and nobody is talking about it and even when they promise to pay a token there is no laid down parameter to actually ascertain the level of damage and it's cost implicatations.
We urge the Governor's Forum in the Eastern Nigerian as well as the Ohaneze Ndigbo to look into our plights and make a strong statement and representation for us so that the federal government would pay us compensation of at least N9 billion which translates to N1 billion per state that made up the old Eastern region of Nigeria.
The body further contended that the manner in which the Herdsmen are being protected by our governors speaks volume of how they consider their security at the detriment of we the farmers.
It is on record that the respective governors of the North are not giving our business men and women in their states this kind of attention and there has not been any time we heard anything about northern governors paying compensation for the loses of our people in the north.
Our National Assembly members should rise to the occasion and speak with one strong voice on the need for the federal government to consider the circumstances that we the farmers find ourselves.
Very soon the years planting season would commence and it would be frustrating if after all that we have laboured would be in vain as a result of the activities of Herdsmen in our home land. they lamented.
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