Tinubu Government Moves To Revive 417 Grazing Reserves Nationwide

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Maiha, the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle the persistent clashes between farmers and herders while transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a modern and commercially viable industry.

He listed Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory, as priority locations due to their history of farmers-herders conflicts.

The minister revealed that the government had identified 417 grazing reserves nationwide and had already commenced a pilot ranching programme in Plateau State.

He explained that the pilot scheme would test a new livestock production model designed to reduce the movement of cattle from one location to another in search of pasture and water.

Maiha said the government was engaging pastoral communities and about 34 relevant organisations to secure their support for a gradual shift from nomadic livestock production to ranching.

He added that the government recently met with pastoralists led by the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar. Another engagement with pastoral communities, he said, is expected within two weeks.

The minister noted that the traditional nomadic system had become increasingly difficult to sustain as grazing routes have been lost to farming, urban expansion and infrastructure development.

He argued that providing adequate pasture, water and other essential resources within ranches would reduce cattle movement and, in turn, help minimise conflicts with farmers.

“Why don’t you provide these resources and stop these animals from moving? Human beings can move; they don’t cause crises. It’s the animals’ movement that normally generates this crisis,” Maiha said.

Government to Promote Commercial Pasture Production

Maiha disclosed that the government would encourage commercial pasture cultivation, enabling farmers and livestock producers to grow grass within ranching settlements or source it from other locations and transport it to livestock.

He said efforts would also be made to improve cattle breeds so that herders could maintain smaller herds while achieving higher milk and meat production.

According to the minister, improving livestock quality would ease pressure on land and other natural resources while increasing the productivity and income of livestock farmers.

He stressed that the proposed ranches would go beyond conventional grazing centres, describing them as fully integrated economic communities.

The grazing reserves, he explained, would include housing, veterinary clinics, schools, healthcare facilities, solar power systems and earth dams to support pasture irrigation.

“At the end of the day, each of those grazing reserves will become an economic hub,” he said.

The government also plans to attract milk processing companies, modular abattoirs and biodigesters to the ranching settlements as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

Maiha said the government was encouraging private-sector investment in modern abattoirs and large-scale dairy operations, while commercial fodder production would also be promoted to guarantee adequate livestock feed and create opportunities for domestic consumption and export.

He said the overall strategy was aimed at moving Nigeria’s livestock industry from a largely traditional system to a more organised, productive and commercially sustainable model.

FG Plans Livestock Tracking System

As part of efforts to improve livestock management, the minister announced plans to introduce radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for cattle and other livestock.

According to Maiha, the technology would help establish ownership, track animals and support the creation of a comprehensive national livestock database.

He said the system would provide the government with more reliable information on livestock across the country and could also help resolve disputes over animal ownership.

The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government had constructed seven model veterinary clinics and was planning to establish at least one model veterinary hospital in every state.

He said improved veterinary services would strengthen animal health and support efforts to increase Nigeria’s production of milk and meat.

Maiha maintained that consultations with pastoralists had so far been positive, arguing that the traditional nomadic system could no longer provide a sustainable solution to the country’s growing livestock needs.

He said the government’s ultimate objective was to build a modern livestock industry capable of reducing farmers-herders conflicts, improving animal productivity, creating jobs and transforming grazing reserves into productive economic hubs.