The Presidency, Miyetti Allah leaders, and key ministries have agreed on steps to end cattle roaming in Abuja through ranches, grazing reserves, and nomadic education initiatives.
The Presidency on Friday said its dialogue with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) was aimed at ending the movement of cows across Abuja’s city centre.
The meeting, convened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, brought together pastoralist leaders and government officials.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, said, “We are here for a stakeholders’ engagements meeting… We must first solve the issue of grazing reserves, we are working on ranches, Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone, and reviving grazing reserves.”
Dr. Balarabe Kakale, aide to the Minister of Education, added that MACBAN leaders agreed to relocate cattle to designated grazing areas equipped with schools, veterinary clinics, electricity, and water.
MACBAN President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, stressed the meeting addressed both cattle roaming and pastoralist children’s education. “Out of about 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, we believe 80 per cent belong to pastoralist children,” he said.
A committee will be set up to implement the resolutions.