Settle Herders With Grazing Reserves – Miyetti Allah Tells Governors

Since the 1960s, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), a significant herder-centered umbrella organisation, has urged governments to allot grazing grounds set aside for herders.

Preserving and safeguarding these grazing reserves, particularly in the 19 northern states, will help end the ongoing disputes between farmers and herders, according to MACBAN President Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, who made this statement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, July 10.

Othman-Ngelzarma made his comments not long after President Bola Tinubu declared the establishment of a new ministry dedicated to livestock development.

He emphasised how, if properly utilised, the cattle industry has the potential to greatly strengthen Nigeria’s economy.

The speaker observed that the southern portion of the nation mostly reaps the financial advantages associated with cows bred in the northern region. According to the president of MACBAN, herders are searching for approved settlements rather than snatching territory.

He said; “We are never against settlement; we are for settlement but what model of settlement? We just have to evolve a model of settlement to stop the roaming because it is not going to be sustained. The population is growing and it will continue to grow against a land that doesn’t increase. So, this calls for an effective planning of the land.”

When asked if state governors would have to give the herders land for settlement or ranching, the MACBAN leader said; “Do they need the state governments to give them (herders) lands? We have areas that are dedicated as grazing reserves. We have about 415 of them all located in the northern part of the country covering about six million hectares of land. There are some encroachments on them but if you minus the encroachments, you will still have about five million hectares of land that are dedicated for grazing, have laws for them for grazing, the lands are there.

“Do we need anybody’s land? The reason why we are calling for the protection and preservation of those lands is that if we are going to settle the pastoralists, they need lands to be settled.

“Since there are dedicated areas that are designated for settlement for grazing, those areas can be used to settle the pastoralists but there has to be a model of settlement because this roaming while looking for pastures is not going to be sustained even in the northern part of the country because of the increase of the population, because of challenges of climate change and what have you. So, there has to be effective planning for the two professions – farming and herding – to co-exist peacefully.”

While praising Tinubu for the new ministry, the head of MACBAN criticised the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which was put forth by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He claimed that although more over ₦500 billion was allocated for agriculture, no money was set aside for livestock.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli