By Faridat Salifu
The Federal Government has launched a phased initiative to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves nationwide, aiming to reduce recurring conflicts between farmers and herders and modernise the country’s livestock sector.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Mr. Idris Ajimobi, disclosed this in Ibadan over the weekend, stating that the effort will be executed in partnership with domestic and international stakeholders under the supervision of the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development.
Ajimobi said the programme will begin with the revival of two to three reserves in each region within the next 12 to 18 months, forming a pilot phase before a full-scale rollout. “Some of the reserves are degraded by invasive weeds, but about 400 remain largely functional and only need modest upgrades,” he noted.
He added that consultations are ongoing to identify potential investment partners, both locally and abroad. “There is growing interest from multiple quarters. We’re working with partners to define their roles and contributions across different reserves,” Ajimobi said.
The plan forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s wider strategy to de-escalate longstanding tensions between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, a conflict that has disrupted agricultural productivity and displaced rural populations for years.
Ajimobi also said the Ministry of Livestock Development is prioritising improvements in water, feed, and animal healthcare to address systemic issues within pastoral communities. “This is not just about the land. We’re looking at the ecosystem—water access, food supply, and livestock wellbeing,” he said.
In parallel with the grazing reserve rehabilitation, the ministry is working to increase domestic beef and dairy output. The administration intends to strengthen Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in animal protein and reduce its reliance on imported dairy products.
“Our long-term vision is to provide every Nigerian child with a daily pack of milk, and that requires ramping up our own production through better practices and input support,” Ajimobi stated.
Stakeholders across the livestock value chain have expressed support for the initiative, viewing it as a necessary step toward resolving rural conflicts, improving food security, and modernising pastoral practices in Nigeria.