FAILURE OF RANCHING POLICIES IN NIGERIA: PROPOSED CATTLE COLONY AND RUGA SETTLEMENT IN PERSPECTIVE, 1914-2018

Abstract

The study critically examined failure of ranching policies in Nigeria from the colonial to the present post-colonial era. The study delves into history to explore the political and economic motives behind the various ranching policies, as well as the most recently proposed Cattle Colony and RUGA Settlement policies. Adopting a qualitative method of data collection which involves use of archival sources, published and unpublished written texts, journal articles, conference proceedings, official documents, and news media, etc., the paper argued that beginning with the colonial administration, ranching policy is replete with political intrigues and underlying motives which often led to its failure. Furthermore, with the advent of the Nigerian independence, ranching policies had been serially subjected to political intrigues without genuine desire to making it a full-fledged commercial and profitable venture that could really transform its mode of operation or the life pattern of the herdsmen, reminiscent of the colonial ranching policy. The study concludes with nostalgia that it was the same resettlement posture of the herdsmen rather than embarking on real profitable ranching venture in the country that the Cattle Colony and RUGA Settlement could be located with all shockwaves, panic and political undertones, hence its failure and continued obsolete and conflict ridden open grazing system.