The Federal Government of Nigeria has described as ‘not true’ the reports of banning open grazing across the country, stressing that no such policy has been announced.
This was contained in a statement by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Maiha said the government is rather implementing a phased and well-structured transition from open grazing to modern ranching systems.
He reiterated that Nigeria currently has 273 gazetted grazing reserves covering more than 4.5 million hectares.
The Minister maintained that the Federal Government is partnering with state governments to rehabilitate and equip the reserves to make them fully functional for pastoralists and livestock operators.
He further pointed out the transition plan does not outlaw open grazing abruptly but aims to create viable alternatives that enhance productivity, reduce farmer–herder conflicts, and build a sustainable livestock economy.
“Pastoralists, like every other economic group, require a structured business environment. The grazing reserves provided by law are meant to serve as business premises for all livestock activities. Our responsibility is to upgrade these reserves and facilitate their proper utilisation,” he said.
The Minister charged Nigerians to disregard misleading reports and rely on official government communication channels for accurate policy information.