President Bola Tinubu has directed herders to end open grazing, surrender all illegal weapons, and transition fully to ranching as part of a new national strategy to resolve the long-standing farmer–herder conflict.
In a national security emergency statement on Wednesday, the president said the federal government is prioritising a sustainable solution to the violent confrontations between herders and farming communities—clashes that have contributed to instability in several northern and central states.
Tinubu highlighted the creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a key component of his administration’s long-term plan to tackle the crisis. He urged all herder associations to collaborate with the ministry, modernise livestock production, and transition to ranch-based operations.
“Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” the President said. “I call on all herder associations to take advantage of this opportunity, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons.”
The president noted that the farmer–herder conflict has consistently fuelled insecurity—ranging from land disputes to deadly confrontations—particularly in the Middle Belt. He emphasised that the new livestock policy is designed to protect both farmers and herders while reducing tensions over land use.
As part of the broader security initiative, Tinubu said the federal government, working with state governments, will fully support the transition process, including providing frameworks for ranch establishment and mechanisms to curb illegal arms circulation.
Security experts view the directive as one of the administration’s strongest public positions yet on ending open grazing, a practice widely associated with clashes over farmland, crop destruction, and competition for dwindling grazing routes.
With states now encouraged to collaborate more closely with the federal government under the new ministry, observers say the success of the initiative will depend on enforcement, community cooperation, and sustained investment in modern livestock systems.
