The Federal Government says it is working closely with key stakeholders to relocate roaming cattle from Abuja’s city centre to designated grazing reserves, as part of broader efforts to modernize livestock management and resolve recurring farmer-herder conflicts across Nigeria.

 

Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Maiha, made this known on Tuesday at the 2025 Media Retreat held in Kaduna, themed “Driving Livestock Growth through Strategic Communication.”

 

According to the minister, the government is set to launch a national peace campaign in the coming weeks to address long-standing tensions between farmers, herders, and local communities.

 

“In a few weeks, the ministry will embark on a national peace campaign to achieve sustainable peace between farmers and herders, organised groups, and communities across the country,” Maiha announced.

 

He said recent engagements with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) were part of a larger move to control the free movement of livestock in the capital.

 

“On Friday, we had a robust engagement with MACBAN as part of our moves to relocate animals roaming the city centre in Abuja to grazing reserves,” he stated.

 

“We need peace. We must give ourselves peace.”

Dr. Maiha underscored the importance of rural peace and stability as a foundation for national food security and economic growth, lamenting the continued loss of military personnel in rural violence.

 

“We cannot keep on losing members of our armed forces to bad elements. We are working with all the security agencies to silence the guns,” he said.

 

“Our focus is to have a country with truckloads of milk, not armoured personnel carriers. Milking machines should replace machine guns.”

 

The minister reiterated that the livestock sector is critical to wealth creation, job generation, and national stability. He said the ministry’s five-year plan prioritizes tailored policies, projects, and investments to unlock the sector’s full potential.

Speaking on the importance of media in advancing livestock reforms, Maiha urged journalists to use their platforms to inform and shape public discourse positively.

 

“Following this retreat, we expect you to leverage your skills to further amplify the narrative of the livestock sector,” he said.

 

“Your reporting has been instrumental in shaping public understanding of our policies and influencing the responses of farmers, herders, investors, and other stakeholders.”

 

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, emphasized the media’s role in building public trust and driving action. Represented by Dr. Victor Egbon, Director of Ruminants and Monogastric Development, Akujobi described the retreat as a step toward deepening collaboration between the government and the media.

 

“Effective communication is about fostering trust, shaping perceptions, and inspiring meaningful action,” she said.

 

“This retreat aims to enhance your proficiency in covering the livestock sector, elevate your work, and strengthen our partnership.”

 

The retreat brought together media professionals, livestock experts, and policymakers to develop strategies for more impactful communication around the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s livestock ecosystem.

 

As the ministry moves to implement these reforms, observers say improved communication and coordinated action across all levels of government will be vital in achieving long-term peace and productivity in the sector.