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The Federal Government has firmly dismissed circulating reports claiming that it has imposed a nationwide ban on open grazing, describing such claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Livestock Development, spokesperson Idi Mukhtar Maiha clarified that no policy outlawing open grazing exists at the federal level. Instead, the government is pursuing a deliberate, phased transition from traditional open grazing to a modern ranching system.
Maiha revealed that Nigeria currently has 273 gazetted grazing reserves spanning over 4.5 million hectares, many of which have fallen into disrepair over the years. The ministry is actively working to revitalise and equip these reserves so they can function as viable business hubs for pastoralists, complete with water, pasture improvement, veterinary services, and security.
He emphasised that the ongoing collaboration with state governments is aimed at ensuring these facilities become fully operational, providing pastoralists with structured environments to conduct their trade without encroaching on farmlands.
“The goal is not to impose an abrupt ban but to create a sustainable, modern livestock sector that boosts productivity and drastically reduces farmer-herder clashes,” Maiha said. He added that pastoralists, like every other economic group, deserve a proper business environment, and the grazing reserves are legally designated to serve exactly that purpose.
The ministry urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation and rely only on official channels for updates on livestock policy, warning that false narratives only inflame tensions in an already delicate sector.
The clarification comes at a time when several states, including Benue, have fully implemented anti-open grazing laws with strict enforcement, sometimes leading to arrests and confiscation of cattle. The contrasting approaches between federal and state policies continue to generate heated debate, with many in the Middle Belt insisting that only a complete ban and ranching can bring lasting peace.
For now, the federal position remains clear: no nationwide ban on open grazing, just a slow, structured journey toward modern ranching, one revived grazing reserve at a time. Whether that pace satisfies communities still counting losses from crop destruction remains one of the biggest questions hanging over Nigeria’s livestock reform agenda.
