…Targets pilot revival in multiple zones within 18 months
..Seeks to cut dairy imports, boost food security
In a move to address the decades-old farmer-herder crisis, the Federal Government has unveiled a plan to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves nationwide, with pilot implementation scheduled within the next 12 to 18 months.
The disclosure came from Mr Idris Ajimobi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, during a weekend press briefing in Ibadan, where he detailed the bold initiative spearheaded by the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development.
The farmer-herder conflict, a protracted and deadly struggle over land and water resources, has left a trail of destruction across rural Nigeria. Now, the Federal Government is betting on infrastructure revival to defuse tensions.
He said: “The target is to revive all the grazing reserves as much as possible,” Ajimobi said. “Some have unfortunately become overrun by aggressive weeds, making them inhabitable for livestock, but a large number—about 400—are still functional and require minimal upgrades to return to standard.
“There is interest from all over, and we are speaking with partners to identify who can come in where.”
He confirmed that the government is currently engaged in consultations with local and international partners to secure technical and financial backing for the project.
Beyond physical rehabilitation of land, the Ministry’s focus includes tackling systemic deficiencies that contribute to the crisis lack of access to clean water, poor livestock healthcare, and inadequate food resources.
He added: “We are going back to the drawing board to identify all the sources of the problem and address them. We must engage the people, sensitise them, and carry them along because we cannot do it alone.
“We want to get to a stage where every Nigerian child gets a pack of milk a day. “To achieve this, we need to increase our local production and work together in a collective effort.”
The Ministry is also rolling out support for livestock farmers to boost meat and dairy production, targeting both food security and import substitution.
The government’s vision includes transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into an engine for economic growth, youth employment, and rural development.
However, Ajimobi insisted that the groundwork is being laid with measurable short-term goals and cross-sector collaboration.
The programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader security and economic development strategy, framed under his Renewed Hope Agenda, with particular emphasis on stabilising conflict zones and modernising agriculture.
He added,“This is not just about grazing reserves. It’s about peace, progress, and national survival. We must get it right this time.”