Insecurity: FG Denies Nationwide Ban on Open Grazing

The Federal Government has dismissed reports saying it has banned open grazing across the country, clarifying that no such policy has been announced.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the clarification on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, stating that the administration is instead implementing a gradual transition from open grazing to modern ranching systems.

Maiha explained that Nigeria currently has 273 legally gazetted grazing reserves covering more than 4.5 million hectares. He said the Federal Government is working closely with state governments to rehabilitate and upgrade these reserves to make them fully functional and appealing to pastoralists and other livestock operators.

According to him, the objective is not an abrupt prohibition of open grazing but the development of sustainable alternatives that will boost livestock productivity, reduce farmer–herder conflicts, and modernise the sector.

“Pastoralists, like all other economic actors, need a proper business environment. The gazetted grazing reserves are legally designated as the business premises for livestock activities. Our job is to modernise these reserves and ensure they are fully utilised,” the Minister said.

The Ministry urged the public to disregard misleading reports and rely solely on official government communication channels for accurate information on livestock development policies.

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