Bayelsa Govt Denies Allocating Land For Fulani Herdsmen Cattle Colony

The Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday denied the claims that the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson has allocated over 250 hectares for the Federal Government proposed Fulani herdsmen colony in the State.

The denial followed the controversies trailing the ownership and management of the Bayelsa state Palm company of which the state government concessioned about 250 hectares of land to a private company for an Integrated Cattle Farming Resort and cropping.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Doodie Week, while speaking during the inter-Ministerial press briefing presentation to mark the 6th year anniversary of the Restoration administration in the state, denied that the Land belonging to the State Palm Company was neither sold nor allocated for Fulani colony.

“No herder has applied, and we have no plans to give it out to herdsmen, it’s a ranch and not a cattle farm. It’s state owned and as we speak every month we received draft paid to the state government account”

According to Week, “In 2016, the state government subscribe to the concession of state assets, Bayelsa Palm company was concessions to a private company. It was concessioned because it was serving as a
conduit pipe. Instead of bringing fund to the State government it was bringing debts.”

“As it is, the state is not giving grants but is now receiving drafts as revenue. And Bayelsa Palm is not a colony but a ranch resort and
not integrated cattle farms. Moving forward we will engage in breeding. We told them we don’t want roaming of cows on the streets of
Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital. If you are for us, you will stay in the ranch. The Bayelsa Palm is not a Fulani herdsmen colony but a
holding area for cattle.”

“Bayelsa Palm is hundred percent owned by the State Government and used as a Ranch resort. it is the day to day aspect that was
concessions out to a company.

On the numerous achievements of the Bayelsa Government in the Agricultural sector, Commissioner Doodie Week said the last six years of the Governor Dickson administration has led to the building of capacity among youths, women and farmers in the state in partnership with intervention agencies such as the SEEFOR and the Federal Government NPower programme with over 363 persons as beneficiaries.

Week also disclosed that Bayelsa, under the restoration administration, has been able to acquire hectares of land for upland fish production under the aquaculture projects, the caravan industrial production and the 15,000 layer capacity poultry farm located at Ebedebiri community in Sagbama local government area.

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