MACBAN Raises Alarm Over Shrinking Grazing Land in FCT

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has sounded the alarm over the growing scarcity of grazing land for cattle in the Federal Capital Territory, warning that the situation is fuelling tensions between farmers and herders.

Speaking with Abuja Metro, the association’s FCT secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Ciroma, lamented that land originally reserved for grazing has been overtaken by farmers, leaving herders with dwindling options. He described the frustration among cattle owners who now struggle to find safe and suitable areas to feed their livestock.

Ciroma singled out the Paiko-Kore grazing reserve, once considered one of the most important in the territory, but now largely swallowed by maize farms. He recalled that grasses were once planted there to attract herders during the tenure of former FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello, yet the effort failed, leaving the land virtually abandoned for grazing purposes.

According to him, herders have been forced to move their cattle into precarious areas, including hilltops and roadside verges along Abuja’s major routes. These desperate measures, he explained, often spark disputes with farmers and even create traffic disruptions when animals stray onto busy roads. He warned that the lack of clear grazing routes has made clashes almost inevitable, as cattle frequently wander into cultivated fields, sparking disputes that could escalate into violence.

The MACBAN secretary recalled a recent standoff in Wumi village in Dobi ward, where tempers flared after grazing paths were blocked. He stressed that without urgent intervention, such flashpoints could become more frequent and harder to control.

Ciroma urged the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat to take decisive steps by compensating farmers occupying reserves and restoring grazing lands through the planting of grasses. He acknowledged the recent initiative announced by the Minister of State for the FCT, Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud, to revive the Kawu grazing reserve in Bwari Area Council. However, he noted with concern that there has been little visible progress since the program was launched.

For Ciroma and other herders, the reality is stark: grazing reserves once meant to sustain livelihoods have been eroded, leaving herders cornered into conflict-prone situations. Until the government acts decisively, the fragile relationship between farmers and herders in the FCT will remain on edge.