Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, on Sunday officially launched a Fulani Rural Grazing Area initiative Settlement in Nguru Local Government Area.
The settlement, created by philanthropist Balarabe Abdullahi, popularly known as Balarabe DJ, is designed to reduce violent clashes between farmers and herders.
The Ruga community comes 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, providing herders with a safe and sustainable living environment.
At the commissioning, Governor Buni highlighted that the project would help reduce open grazing, which frequently leads to the destruction of farmland.
He added that the modern settlement would promote the integration of pastoralists into the broader society while enhancing their access to education and healthcare.
The governor also urged other public-spirited individuals to emulate Alhaji Abdullahi’s efforts in fostering 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 created to minimize conflicts by providing herders with designated grazing areas.
In 2025, several northern states, including Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, allocated large swathes of land for the National Livestock Transformation Plan, popularly known as the RUGA, to take off.
The move aims to tackle farmer-herder clashes and boost food production, complementing the Federal government’s livestock development initiatives.
