Nigeria's Government to Launch Modern Ranching Initiative

The Nigerian federal government has announced plans to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves and establish modern ranching settlements in six major conflict-prone areas to address recurring farmer-herder clashes. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, identified Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as priority states.

A pilot scheme in Plateau State is already underway to test a livestock production model aimed at reducing cattle movement. The government is seeking support from the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and has consulted pastoral communities to facilitate the transition from nomadic livestock production to ranching.

The ministry envisions transforming grazing reserves into economic communities equipped with housing, veterinary clinics, schools, healthcare facilities, solar power, and earth dams for pasture irrigation. The initiative responds to the unsustainability of nomadic livestock production due to disappearing grazing routes caused by farming, urbanization, and infrastructure development.