New RUGA Project in Yobe Aims to Ease Communal Tensions

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has officially inaugurated a new Fulani Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlement in Nguru Local Government Area, designed to mitigate conflicts between farmers and herders.

The settlement, developed by philanthropist Balarabe Abdullahi (Balarabe DJ), features housing, a school, a clinic, potable water, electricity, a mosque, and a shopping centre, providing pastoralists with essential amenities for sustainable living.

Addressing attendees at the commissioning, Governor Buni said the project would help reduce open grazing, prevent farmland destruction, and support peaceful coexistence. “This initiative will integrate herders into society while improving access to education and healthcare,” he noted.

Abdullahi explained that the settlement was part of a broader strategy to provide designated grazing areas, reduce conflicts, and modernise livestock management. Several northern states, including Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, have allocated land under the National Livestock Transformation Plan to promote structured grazing and boost food security.

Buni commended Abdullahi’s contributions and called on other private individuals to emulate the initiative in fostering community development and peace.