The Federal Government has formally outlawed open cattle grazing across Nigeria, describing it as a serious offence.
The ban was announced today by the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the inaugural meeting of the National Council on Livestock Development in Yola.
During the launch, Minister Maiha expressed deep concern over the persistent and deadly clashes between herders and farmers, attributing much of the violence to open grazing practices. He warned that open grazing will now be punishable under federal policy, urging cattle rearers to transition to ranching, a model he called safer, more profitable, and more sustainable.
Maiha went further, describing open grazing as a “capital offence” under the new livestock framework. He told herders that the future of animal husbandry in Nigeria lies in ranches, not roaming cattle.
The minister also emphasized that ranching could significantly boost Nigeria’s livestock sector economically. He projected that the ministry could generate 74 billion dollars in the next five years, and said more than 14 billion dollars has already been recorded under ongoing livestock initiatives.
At the same time, Maiha reiterated the government’s long-term commitment to relocating cattle out of towns and cities.
