The Politics of Grazing Reserves in Nigeria

There are credible records that grazing reserves in Nigeria started during the pre-colonial era (Bako and Ingawa 1988). Although formally introduced by the British, grazing reserves were demarcated by the Fulani who conquered and ruled Northern Nigeria. Some research has shown that for all classes of land use, except uncultivated land, grazing has intensified all over Nigeria. The evolution of grazing reserves in Nigeria shows a history of problems in the grazing land development and these problems have attained murderous proportions in recent times.

What is a Grazing Reserve?

A grazing reserve is “a piece of land that the government acquires, develops, and releases to the pastoral Fulani for cattle grazing. The 3rd National Development Plan of 1975-1980 proposed acquisition of a total of 22 million hectares of land for constituting into Grazing Reserves. In Nigeria to date, a little over 4.30 million hectares have been acquired through the establishment of 415 Grazing Reserves (Gazetted and Ungazetted) in 21 states including the FCT.” The dilemma is that the cattle herders who are mostly Fulani have refused or neglected to confine themselves and their animals strictly to these reserves. That is the root cause of all the problems they incessantly have with local farmers all over Nigeria. There must be a way out.

A Credible Way Out of the Problem

Because of continuous skirmishes and even murders and arson between cattle grazers and local farmers, it has become imperative to find a lasting solution. Inevitably, we will end up with grazing reserves/ranches as dictated by modern animal husbandry practices all around the world. Here now is how that can be practicable with fewer problems:



01. Nomadic animal husbandry is now archaic and unhelpful so the nomads should be educated and encouraged to settle in reserves/ranches.
02.  Nigerian government should facilitate the settlement of the nomads by education and encourage them to modernize livestock farming.
03. If that is done, they can then be integrated with the rest of the agricultural industry with a view to allowing the livestock industry contribute its rightful quota unfettered to the Nigerian economy.
04. It will be most helpful to confine cattle ranches only to extreme northern states like Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Gombe for practical and economic reasons.
05. Protecting human lives, property and the environment should be a major concern of the Nigerian government and the establishment of cattle ranches will help greatly in that quest.
06. With cattle ranches in place, the livestock farmers can easily be helped with extension services, veterinary services and modern animal husbandry services.
07. The Nigerian government should as a matter of policy borrow a leaf from the USA, Kenya and other countries with zero nomadic grazing policy to stop incessant farmers/herders clashes in the country.
08. The government should at all costs avoid the use of legislation when trying to solve a social problem because experience has shown that such legislations always manage to aggravate the problem.

Final word! Other farmers in Nigeria depend on their crops for survival the way the cattle herders depend on their animals. Government can do well to encourage both sides to co-exist side by side. That is the only credible way to lasting peace in Nigeria.