Fulani herdsmen under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have given conditions to be met in order to end open grazing in Nigeria.
Herdsmen said they are willing to quit open grazing if the Nigerian government would make finance and logistics available for them to create alternatives.
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore brand Ambassador, Temitope Ajayi, said this alongside officials of the association while on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, in Abuja.
The herdsmen noted that they can’t suddenly quit the age-long practice because there is no alternative way yet to feed their cattle.
Ajayi added there was a need to re-orientate and change the mindset and perceptions of the Fulani herders so as to end outdated practices of open grazing.
“There is a need to re-orientate and change the mindset and perceptions of the Fulani herders, farmers and other entities in Nigeria, modernise cattle breeding and end outdated practices of open grazing and other nomadic activities, and bring them up to international best practice,” she said.
The herdsmen vowed to leave the farmlands as soon as ranches that are being proposed by some government officials, particularly southern state governors, are provided.