The Federal Government says it has commenced the revival of grazing reserves and ranches across Nigeria as part of efforts to end the long-standing farmer–herder clashes in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock Development, with a nationwide audit of existing grazing reserves and ranches already underway.
Kawu grazing reserve revival begins
Mr Ajimobi said work had commenced on the Kawu Grazing Reserve in Abuja, noting that the government is prioritising the rehabilitation of existing facilities before establishing new ones.
He explained that Nigeria has 417 grazing reserves, many of which require modernization to support a sustainable livestock system.
“It’s not just about teaching farmers modern ways of farming. If we teach without providing the necessary infrastructure, we are wasting our time,” Mr Ajimobi said.
“We have also begun reviving some of the grazing reserves. We started with Kawu Grazing Reserve in Abuja. We started the revival last year. We are hoping that it will be ready soon.”
He added that the government is engaging private sector partners and international stakeholders to support the modernization of livestock infrastructure across the country.
Ranching strategy to reduce clashes
According to Mr Ajimobi, the broader objective is to transition Nigeria from open grazing to a structured ranching system, which he said has proven effective in other countries.
He stated that the policy is designed to reduce frequent clashes between farmers and herders while improving livestock productivity.
“We are also speaking, trying to identify all the ranches across the nation… and use them as a platform to begin the ranching system that the government wants to begin in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing reforms are aimed at strengthening food security and modernising the livestock value chain.
Food security agenda and presidential targets
Mr Ajimobi said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is prioritising food security, which informed the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development.
He disclosed that the President has set a nutritional benchmark aimed at ensuring that every child has access to basic animal protein daily.
“Every child must be able to get a sachet of milk and one egg every day,” he said.
He added that improving livestock production is central to achieving this goal and reducing national food insecurity.
Security and community involvement
On insecurity in rural areas, Mr Ajimobi said tackling kidnapping and banditry requires joint responsibility between government and local communities.
He argued that poverty and community complicity contribute to criminal activity in some regions, stressing the need for inclusive solutions.
He also said modernising livestock systems and involving communities in security frameworks would complement the efforts of the armed forces.
Foreign investment into livestock sector
Mr Ajimobi further revealed that Nigeria is attracting foreign investment into the livestock sector, citing recent agreements and discussions facilitated by the Federal Government.
These include a reported $1.5bn partnership with JBS, a French cooperation deal in agriculture and livestock development, and a £100m dairy investment agreement during the President’s visit to the United Kingdom.
He also noted ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia on the export of Nigerian beef products.
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