Wike, Ribadu, Livestock Minister Collaborate to End Open Grazing in Abuja City Centre
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced that his administration is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Ministry of Livestock Development to end open cattle grazing within the Abuja city centre.
Wike revealed this during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Friday, noting that discussions were also ongoing with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to achieve a lasting solution to the issue.
The minister described cattle grazing as a national security concern, explaining that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was exploring ranching as the only sustainable alternative for herders currently operating within the city.
“Yes, the discussions are ongoing, and in fact, with the Minister of Livestock. We are trying to provide where some of these cows will be taken, what you call ranching,” Wike said.
“We are also talking to Miyetti Allah and other stakeholders. It has a lot of implications, and that’s why I said it’s a national security issue. I believe that in the near future, it will be sorted out.
The Minister of Livestock is collaborating with us and the other security agencies to see that this matter is put to rest. The only thing you can do is ranching, there is no other solution other than ranching.”
Wike’s remarks come a month after the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, disclosed the Federal Government’s plan to revitalise grazing reserves across the country.
Maiha made the announcement during an inspection tour of the Kawu Grazing Reserve in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
According to Daily Trust, the government has also reached an agreement requiring herders within Abuja to relocate their cattle from the city centre to designated grazing reserves.
The move, officials said, followed a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders, including MACBAN, traditional institutions, and security agencies.
The collaboration between the FCTA, ONSA, and the Livestock Ministry marks a major step toward implementing the Federal Government’s broader strategy to modernise livestock management and restore order to the capital’s growing urban environment.
