Rivers government rejects RUGA settlements

Rivers State Government has stated that it will not participate in the planned settlements for herdsmen.

In a statement released and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsiri, the government said the state has no land for the implementation of such a policy. It noted that in his second term as 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.

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

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.