(Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha Minister of Livestock Development. Photo by Nigeria Stories)
The Federal Government is set to overhaul 417 grazing reserves across the country and develop contemporary ranching settlements in six regions historically ravaged by farmer-herder tensions, according to the Minister of Livestock Development following a briefing with President Tinubu at the nation’s seat of power.
The ministry has zeroed in on Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa states and the Federal Capital Territory as intervention zones, citing their persistent conflicts as the primary driver for this initiative.
A test programme is already underway in Plateau State to evaluate a revised livestock production framework designed to curb nomadic cattle herding patterns.
The government is engaged in extensive dialogue with pastoral communities and some 34 organisations to facilitate a transition away from traditional transhumance systems.
Senior engagements have already occurred with pastoral leadership, including figures from major herding associations and regional religious authorities, with further discussions planned for the coming fortnight.
The ministry has encountered no substantive pushback during these consultations, with officials noting that migratory herding has become fundamentally unworkable given the erosion of traditional grazing corridors through agricultural expansion, urban sprawl and infrastructure projects.
The proposed strategy pivots toward commercial grassland production within designated settlements or externally cultivated and transported to livestock, coupled with selective breeding programmes that would allow herders to maintain smaller herds with superior productivity metrics, thereby reducing land strain whilst boosting output of milk and meat.
The government envisions transforming these reserves into thriving economic zones equipped with residential units, veterinary services, educational and medical facilities, renewable energy infrastructure and water management systems for irrigation.
Such settlements would serve as anchors for value-added enterprises including dairy processing operations, abattoir facilities and biogas generation plants.
The ministry also plans to deploy radio-frequency identification tracking systems for animals to establish ownership records and build a comprehensive national livestock registry.
Additionally, the government has constructed seven model veterinary clinics and intends to establish at least one tertiary veterinary hospital per state, whilst simultaneously promoting investment in large-scale commercial dairy ventures and industrial-scale meat processing facilities, alongside domestic and export-oriented fodder cultivation programmes.
