Herdsmen/Fulani crisis: Ayegun –Waasinmi community hails Agric Minister for wind mill provision

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The determination of the Federal Government to mitigate the recurrent crisis between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria received commendation from Ayegun Waasinmi community, Oyo state for the completion of the wind mill powered pole hole project allocated to the place.

Through a sent by Alayegun of Ayegun of Iwajowa Local Government of Oyo state, Oba Emmanuel OyedepoAloa on behalf of the subjects that comprises natives and large Fulani settlers appreciated the Minister , Chief Audu Ogbeh for his spirited effort to finding solution to constant conflict between farmers and herdsmen occasioned by water and scarcity of grasses for the animals to feed on.

In the message, Oba Emmanuel Oyedepo expressed his profound appreciation of his people towards creating a peaceful environment occasioned mostly by scarcity of water between farmers and herdsmen saying “ This laudable projects is no doubt going to meet our needs for clean drinking water and that of the grazing animals owned by the Fulani settlers, thereby promoting harmonious relationship between the community and Fulani settlers. We therefore express our joy that your contractor (Jet Age Energy Solutions, Nigeria Limited has done a good job with quick execution of the job”

Food Farm News checks on Jet Age Energy Solutions, Nigeria Limited confirmed the job completion as one of the Directors, Chief Olayiwola Okesaid that the wind mill powered bole hole mechanical machines have got durability advantages over any others like “turbine machines” that use batteries and converters which could be easily destroyed by rain and even stolen when installed in a remote area adding that the job inspection has already been conducted by the officials of the FMARD  with thanks to government for being given the opportunity to exhibit the company’s expertise in this area with timely delivery.

Chief Oke who implored the FG to replicate this same water distribution mechanical machines across all the grazing reserves areas across the nation for water provision for both the animals and humans towards conflict mitigation that always arises due to scarcity added that the wind mills ruggedness to harsh weather cannot be compared to any others including the one with solar panels coupled cost effective maintenance for over fifty years as Jigawa state was a good reference point of where the clashes between farmers and herdsmen are well managed with this modern water distribution technology.

Responding further to question of its advantage over solar powered bole hole machines, he pointed that majority of these installation in all our grazing reserves are moribund saying “it is either the panel have been stolen, or dust accumulation on the panel reduces the functionality during dry season and they can easily be broken by storm. But the wind mill mechanical machines have the following mentioned advantages over solar panels”

1.       Grazing reserves are in very remote areas where it is very easy to steal solar panels while none of the parts of the windmill can be stolen.

2.       Windmills have a life span of about fifty years. This has been proven in some Northern states of the country 

for example in Kano state, all the installed during the colonial days are still working till date.

3.       Maintenance cost is very low requiring only lubrication.

4.       It can withstand very harsh weather condition and has a built in mechanism to achieve this.

5.       Windmills have been modernized to operate at very low speed of about 2.2mw which is available all over Nigeria, and it can lift water from as low as 120m/140m depth.