The Federal Government has dismissed claims that open grazing has been banned nationwide, insisting that no such directive has been issued.
This clarification was given in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha.
Maiha explained that the government is instead introducing a gradual and carefully planned shift from open grazing to modern ranching practices.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria currently has 273 legally recognised grazing reserves, covering more than 4.5 million hectares of land.
The Minister stated that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governments to restore and equip the reserves so they can serve as fully operational centres for pastoralists and livestock businesses.
He noted that the transition plan is not an outright or immediate ban on open grazing but is designed to provide workable alternatives that improve productivity, reduce clashes between farmers and herders, and support a more sustainable livestock sector.
“Pastoralists, like every other economic group, require a structured business environment. The grazing reserves established by law are intended to function as business locations for all livestock activities. Our duty is to upgrade these reserves and ensure their proper use,” he said.
The Minister urged Nigerians to ignore misleading claims and depend solely on official government communication channels for reliable policy updates.
