• FG
• Grazing Reserve

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TRANSFORM 417 GRAZING RESERVES INTO MINI-TOWNS WITH MODERN AMENITIES

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  CapitalTimesNews / 3 months
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• 2 min read

The Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed plans to transform the nation’s 417 grazing reserves into mini-towns equipped with stable power supply, schools, healthcare facilities, markets, abattoirs, road networks, water, sanitation, communication facilities, security, irrigation facilities, veterinary services, and feed production. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, revealed this at a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) aimed at providing solar-powered grids to the reserves. Maiha lamented that the grazing reserves have been abandoned for years, contributing to unsustainable nomadic practices and herder-farmer conflicts. “Since coming on board, this ministry has had an extensive tour of the 417 grazing reserves in the country. We have come up with a model, what we call Renewed Hope Livestock Village, where most of these grazing reserves are going to be rehabilitated with a number of social amenities,” Maiha said. He explained the modernization aims to incentivize pastoralists to settle, reducing migrations and enhancing livestock sector development. “We will build earth dams, primary schools, primary health care for the families of the herders, veterinary clinics… and therefore, for the quality of life to improve… we need to energize those areas,” Maiha stated. The Minister identified pilot locations including Wawazangi in Gombe State, Wasem in Plateau State, Gongoshin in Adamawa State, and Ka’u in Bwari Area Council, FCT. REA Executive Secretary Abba Aliyu described the partnership as a “marriage of convenience”, targeting clusters with development elements like healthcare, schools, and markets for renewable energy deployment. “The rural electrification agency is powering Nigeria… We design programs to energize education, agriculture, security… and now livestock development,” Aliyu said. The rehabilitation will be phased, addressing varying reserve conditions, with the goal of boosting productivity and sustainability in Nigeria’s livestock sector.