FG identifies 470 gazetted reserves and moves to end open grazing.

The Federal Government has identified 470 gazetted and legally protected grazing reserves for the rehabilitation and resettlement of pastoralists, a move aimed at ending open grazing and boosting livestock productivity nationwide.

Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha revealed the initiative during an interview on Arise News, where he also discussed the implementation of the National Dairy Policy Framework and broader plans to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Maiha explained that the strategy seeks to encourage pastoralists to adopt a sedentary lifestyle by relocating them to designated grazing reserves, where government interventions can be more effectively applied.

He said that settling herders in these reserves would improve disease surveillance, breed improvement, and animal health management, while also limiting the movement of cattle across cities and communities.

“Open grazing is no longer sustainable. Long‑distance cattle movement contributes to low productivity and hampers efforts to meet the country’s dairy needs,” Maiha noted.

“We are sensitising pastoralists to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Once they settle in designated reserves, all the interventions required to improve productivity become easier to implement,” he added.

The minister also announced plans to introduce jaw‑tagging technology for livestock, enabling authorities to track animals and quickly identify those that stray from designated locations or are stolen.

Regarding dairy production, Maiha said Nigeria currently records average milk yields of between 1.2 and two litres per cow daily—far below countries such as Kenya, where yields can reach up to 30 litres per day. He attributed the low output to poor livestock genetics, inadequate feeding systems, and weak disease management practices.

Maiha noted that, despite Nigeria’s estimated 270 million ruminants—including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels—the country has not modernised its livestock genetics at the required scale. He said research institutions and veterinary faculties exist across the country, but genetic improvement programmes have not been widely implemented.

According to the minister, the government’s strategy focuses on improved feeding, disease control, and genetic enhancement under the National Dairy Policy Framework to increase local milk production and reduce dependence on imports.

“Improved breeding and performance‑based selection could significantly raise milk yields and boost the productivity of Nigeria’s livestock sector,” Maiha said.