FG begins phased development of grazing reserves

FILE: Grazing

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The Federal Government has commenced a phased development of grazing reserves across the country, beginning with three pilot locations in Gombe, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, as part of a broader, inter-ministerial effort involving state governments and the private sector.

Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, told The PUNCH that the approach was deliberate, given the scale of the project nationwide.

“It’s a phased approach. We can’t take all of them at once. There are 417 grazing reserves, and we intend to cover all of them. Starting with a couple of them as pilots: Wawa-Zange (Gombe State), Wase (Plateau State), and Kawu in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory,” she stated.

According to her, work has already begun in the three pilot locations, with collaboration extending beyond the federal level. “These are the three that we’ve started working on, and we’re doing it in collaboration with the state government, as well as the private sector. So over the years, as we get more funding and improved partnerships, we will spread to the other grazing reserves. But these ones are like the model for how the others will look.”

She explained that the development plan goes beyond livestock concerns and includes social infrastructure aimed at improving living conditions for pastoral communities.

“So, it’s not just even the ministry, it’s an inter-ministerial activity, because we’re thinking of ensuring that these grazing reserves have good public schools for the pastoralists, for their children to attend. We’re trying to see that we have access roads. We’re trying to see that we have public healthcare,” Uchechukwu stated.

Housing and renewable energy are also part of the pilot projects, she said. “We’re trying to see that we have houses for the pastoralists to dwell in. We have signed a partnership for the solarisation of the Kawu grazing reserve in Abuja, and we’ll probably replicate it in the other grazing reserves that we’re working on. So, it’s a lot of money. The federal government will not bear the cost alone.”

Uchechukwu stressed that funding will be shared among multiple stakeholders to reduce the burden on the federal government. “We’re partnering with the state government and the private sector. So, I think as soon as we provide basic infrastructure in those grazing reserves, the private sector will be encouraged to also come in and pitch in terms of providing some structure to the abattoir and all of that.”

She noted that the cost of infrastructure development would be high. “If you’re thinking of constructing roads, healthcare facilities, schools, and housing units for these pastoralists, it will definitely run into millions of Naira. And other infrastructure too. Like the Kawu grazing reserve, we’re supposed to desilt.”

Providing further details on ongoing work at the Kawu site, she added, “There’s a water body there, which the minister is saying we’re going to desilt. We had even sunk about three boreholes in that Kawu grazing reserve. So, all of this definitely will run into millions of Naira, if not billions.”

She reiterated that the project cuts across several ministries and levels of government. “But it’s an inter-ministerial arrangement, as I said. We’re partnering with the FCT administration. We’re partnering with the Ministry of Education for schools.”

Health facilities will also be handled through collaboration, as she said, “We’re partnering with the Ministry of Health for the hospitals that will be in those places. So, all the funds will not come from the Ministry of Livestock Development. And all of this will not come from only the federal government.”

She concluded by emphasising shared responsibility and the progress already made. “The state will also pitch in. The private sector, too, will pitch in. But we have started work with the three that I mentioned.”

The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu recently made livestock reform and rural security a policy priority as part of broader efforts to reduce violent conflict and improve economic opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural sectors.

At a Federal Executive Council meeting, President Tinubu directed a nationwide security overhaul while also instructing the National Economic Council to identify grazing reserves that could be transformed into commercially viable ranches and livestock settlements.

The President’s directive, which included restructuring security deployments and arming forest guards, was explicitly aimed at curbing kidnapping, terrorism, and recurring farmer–herder clashes across the country — challenges that have long impacted rural communities.

Tinubu stressed that converting grazing reserves into ranches would not only reduce sources of conflict but could also be transformed into economic opportunities for pastoralists and local communities. He emphasised that the state governors have the constitutional authority to determine which grazing lands could be developed for livestock settlements.

This policy push aligns with ongoing government discussions on modernising livestock production, moving away from traditional open grazing toward improved ranching systems designed to offer structured, safer, and economically productive environments for herders and their families.

Princess, has three years journalism experience covering entertainment, including radio and TV and recently aviation and transport with Punch Newspapers

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