Why cattle rearers are encroaching into our boundaries – UNIJOS VC, Maimako

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Seddi Sebastian Maimako on Tuesday said the institution has been unable to totally secure its boundaries since its establishment forty-three years ago due to lack of funds.

The Vice Chancellor made the disclosure while addressing journalists ahead of the University’s 29th and 30th convocation, bill for 23rd June, 2018 in Jos.

He said, “The University of Jos has some modest land, but unsecured. The university from inception has not been able to secure its boundaries totally.

“We have added to our problems just recently, by the acquisition of 119 hectares of land, also unsecured.”

According to Maimako, “If your are not able to secure your property, people can walk into your premises and also walk out, so that is the same thing with the grazing activities on our land. They will tell you they don’t want anything except the grass; and that if we are a Federal University, the grass belongs to the Federal Government, so you should not restrict them from grazing.

“But, on a more serious note, we have had several meetings, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration and the Acting Chief Security Officer, have held series of meetings with the cattle rearers. We usually have this assurance from them (herders) that well we will not do that again; but as soon as the meeting is concluded, the following day you will still see them”, he lamented.

“If you call them back, they may tell you these are new sets of people, and they don’t know them.

“The problem actually is, lack of resources to secure our property, if we secure it, it would be difficult for them; if you need to get into this University, you can do that only through the gate. Like this small place where we are, I don’t think you will see them here, for the simple reason that we have secured this place.

“With some intervention we can secure that other one, you will not see them, they would rather operate outside.

“So with lack of resources, we are toeing the path of peace and dialogue, and we will continue to pursue peace.

“The process of dialogue is on, it has not been exhausted and we are appealing to them to understand and keep away from our community, and I think they would understand”, he stressed.

On the Convocation, the Vice Chancellor said the University is to confer an Honorary Degrees to Sir Mike Mbaka Okiro, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and Engr. John G. Mallo Makwal, for their contributions to national development.

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