FG Identifies 470 Grazing Reserves to End Open Grazing Across Nigeria

The Federal Government has identified 470 legally gazetted grazing reserves across the country as part of efforts to end open grazing and the movement of cattle on major roads and in urban centres.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this during an interview on Arise News while discussing the implementation of the National Dairy Policy Framework and plans to modernise Nigeria's livestock sector.

According to the minister, the designated grazing reserves will be rehabilitated and used to resettle pastoralists, helping to improve livestock management, disease surveillance, animal health services, and breed development.

Maiha said the government is encouraging herders to adopt a settled lifestyle, noting that open grazing and long-distance cattle movement are no longer sustainable and contribute to low productivity in the livestock sector.

He explained that the government plans to introduce electronic identification tags for cattle. The system will help monitor animal movement and quickly detect when livestock stray from designated areas or are stolen.

The minister also expressed concern over Nigeria's low milk production. He said local cattle currently produce between 1.2 and 2 litres of milk per day, far below the output recorded in countries such as Kenya, where improved breeds can produce up to 30 litres daily.

Maiha attributed the low productivity to poor livestock genetics, inadequate feeding practices, and weak disease control measures. He noted that despite having an estimated 270 million ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, Nigeria has not made significant progress in improving livestock breeds.

He added that the government is focusing on better feeding systems, stronger disease management, and genetic improvement programmes to boost local milk production, reduce imports, and transform the livestock industry.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise the sector and increase productivity while addressing concerns associated with open grazing across the country.

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