The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, pastoralists and other stakeholders to curb cattle movement through the city centre and rehabilitate grazing reserves across the Territory.
The initiative is aimed at promoting orderly cattle movement, improving pastoralists’ living conditions and ensuring sustainable livestock production.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance on Thursday, October 15th, 2026, when a delegation from the FCT Department of Animal Husbandry Services, led by its Director, Mrs Clementina Njoku, paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
Maiha explained that the proposed rehabilitation of grazing reserves would involve providing essential infrastructure and social amenities to make designated settlements suitable for pastoralists, their families and livestock.
He listed the proposed facilities to include schools, housing, temporary clinics, boreholes, solar-powered water systems and earth dams, among others.
According to the Minister, providing these basic amenities would encourage pastoralists to settle in designated areas, improve their welfare and reduce the need for cattle to move through urban centres.
He further disclosed that the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Programme (L-PRES) would implement interventions in the FCT livestock sector.
The interventions would cover genetic improvement, infrastructure development, veterinary hospitals and clinics, vaccine supply, farm inputs and services, as well as the provision of boreholes to support livestock-producing communities.
The Minister also revealed that the Ministry would formally notify the FCT Minister of its intention to conduct an assessment tour of grazing reserves, livestock markets and other livestock facilities across the Territory.
He said the assessment would help determine the condition of existing facilities, identify areas requiring urgent attention and develop appropriate rehabilitation measures to improve livestock production and encourage pastoralists to settle in designated locations.
Maiha emphasised that the Ministry would prioritise the provision of adequate facilities and a safe environment before introducing restrictions on cattle movement within the metropolis.
“We are not going to force them. Once we are satisfied that those places are safe and equipped with the facilities and amenities required by pastoralists, their families and their animals, we can then introduce measures to ensure that no animals are seen roaming within the metropolis,” the Minister stated.
On the proposed establishment of an FCT Livestock Development Secretariat in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Maiha assured the delegation of the Ministry’s willingness to support the initiative, provided a clear justification for its establishment was presented.
Earlier, the Director of the FCT Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Mrs Clementina Njoku, described the livestock subsector as a critical component of the agricultural economy and a major contributor to national development.
Njoku commended the Ministry’s efforts to modernise animal husbandry, improve livestock productivity, strengthen food security and create sustainable livelihoods for pastoralists and livestock farmers.
She identified potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions to include livestock breeding and genetic improvement, feed and nutrition development, value-chain development and market access, research and innovation, technology transfer, as well as capacity building and training.
The Director expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between the Ministry and the FCT Department of Animal Husbandry Services would enhance livestock productivity, strengthen resilience to climate change and support the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan and other relevant national policies.
The meeting was attended by Directors, Senior Special Assistants to the Honourable Minister and Heads of Departments.
