The Federal Government has unveiled plans to gradually phase out open grazing across Nigeria as part of a broader strategy to modernise the livestock sector, improve productivity and address longstanding challenges associated with cattle movement across the country.
The initiative, announced by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, will see the rehabilitation of hundreds of gazetted grazing reserves and the settlement of pastoralists in designated locations nationwide.
According to the minister, the government has already identified 470 grazing reserves that will be upgraded and developed to support a more structured and sustainable livestock management system.
FG Pushes For Settled Ranching System
Speaking on the implementation of the National Dairy Policy Framework, Maiha said the government is encouraging herders to embrace a settled lifestyle rather than the traditional practice of moving cattle across vast distances in search of pasture and water.
The minister explained that concentrating pastoral communities within designated grazing reserves would not only improve livestock management but also make it easier for government agencies to provide veterinary services, monitor animal health and implement breeding programmes.
He noted that the move is expected to significantly reduce the movement of cattle on highways and in major urban centres such as Abuja and Lagos, where roaming livestock has become a growing concern.
According to him, a more organised livestock system would enable authorities to deliver targeted support to herders while boosting overall productivity within the sector.
Electronic Tracking For Cattle Planned
As part of the reforms, the government also plans to introduce an electronic cattle-tracking system designed to monitor the movement of livestock across the country.
Under the proposed arrangement, cattle will be fitted with electronic identification tags capable of tracking their location.
Maiha explained that animals that stray beyond approved boundaries can be quickly identified and located, helping to reduce incidents of theft, loss and unregulated movement.
The system, he said, will strengthen livestock management and improve security within the sector.
Why Open Grazing Is Becoming Unsustainable
The minister argued that the traditional practice of open grazing is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in a rapidly growing and urbanising country.
According to him, the long-distance movement of cattle negatively affects productivity, exposes animals to stress and disease, and limits the sector’s capacity to meet Nigeria’s growing demand for dairy products and other livestock-related needs.
He stressed that modern livestock economies around the world are built on settled production systems that allow for better feeding, breeding and disease control.
Nigeria’s Dairy Challenge
Maiha expressed concern over Nigeria’s low milk production despite having one of the largest livestock populations in Africa.
He revealed that cows in Nigeria currently produce an average of between 1.2 and 2 litres of milk per day, a figure that falls significantly below production levels recorded in several other African countries and global dairy-producing nations.
According to the minister, poor livestock genetics, inadequate feeding practices and weak disease management systems remain major factors limiting productivity.
270 Million Livestock, But Limited Progress
The minister noted that Nigeria is home to an estimated 270 million ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats and camels.
Despite these large numbers, he said the country has struggled to achieve meaningful progress in livestock breeding and productivity.
Maiha pointed out that many countries have transformed their livestock industries through deliberate genetic improvement programmes, while Nigeria continues to rely heavily on traditional breeds with lower production capacity.
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He maintained that the government’s new livestock development strategy is aimed at changing that narrative by promoting modern breeding techniques, better animal welfare practices and improved disease control systems.
A Major Shift In Livestock Policy
The planned phase-out of open grazing represents one of the most significant policy shifts in Nigeria’s livestock sector in recent years.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could reshape how livestock is managed across the country, improve dairy production, strengthen food security and reduce the challenges associated with uncontrolled cattle movement.
Government officials say the reforms are part of a long-term vision to transform livestock farming into a modern, technology-driven industry capable of contributing more significantly to Nigeria’s economy.