The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to relocate cattle roaming the Abuja city centre to designated grazing reserves. Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Idi Maiha, made this disclosure at the 2025 Media Retreat in Kaduna, themed “Driving Livestock Growth through Strategic Communication”. The move aims to address the issue of farmer-herder conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence among rural communities.
According to Dr Maiha, the ministry will soon launch a national peace campaign to achieve sustainable peace between farmers and herders. This initiative follows a recent engagement with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to relocate animals from the city centre to grazing reserves. The minister emphasized the need for strong commitment from state governments to ensure comprehensive and lasting peace, citing the importance of peace in rural communities for food security, job creation, and national stability.
The livestock sector is a key driver of wealth creation, job opportunities, and rural stability in Nigeria. The ministry’s priority over the next five years is to provide the sector with the right policies, programmes, and projects. Dr Maiha stressed the importance of communication in advancing the livestock sector, urging the media to leverage their skills to amplify the narrative of the sector.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, represented by Dr Victor Egbon, highlighted the critical role of the media in shaping public understanding of government initiatives. Effective communication, she noted, is about fostering trust, shaping perceptions, and inspiring meaningful action. The media retreat aimed to enhance the proficiency of journalists in covering the livestock sector and strengthen the partnership between the ministry and the media.
The relocation of cattle from Abuja city centre to grazing reserves is a significant step towards addressing the issue of farmer-herder conflicts. The national peace campaign, set to be launched soon, will play a crucial role in promoting peaceful coexistence among rural communities. As the livestock sector continues to grow, the importance of effective communication and collaboration between the government, media, and stakeholders cannot be overstated. With the right policies and programmes in place, Nigeria’s livestock sector is poised to drive economic growth, create jobs, and ensure food security for the nation.