President Bola Tinubu has announced a new national push to modernise livestock farming in an effort to curb the long running clashes between farmers and herders across the country.
The President said the initiative aims to transform livestock production into a structured and productive economic sector that can create jobs, improve food supply and reduce violent conflict.
The announcement was delivered in Lokoja during the memorial of former Kogi State Governor Prince Abubakar Audu, where the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented the President.
Tinubu said the plan will introduce large scale ranching systems, modern animal husbandry practices and a fully integrated livestock value chain that supports national economic growth.
The News Chronicle learned that the new approach is designed to shift the sector away from unregulated open grazing patterns that have fuelled disputes for years, especially in states where farmland and grazing routes increasingly overlap.
Senior government officials believe that formalising the livestock industry could ease tensions and help restore security to many rural communities.
According to Tinubu, the Federal Government is also strengthening the capability of the armed forces and intelligence agencies and advancing work on the proposed State Police framework to ensure community focused security.
He added that social investment programmes are being expanded to support vulnerable families, provide funding for small businesses and equip young Nigerians with globally competitive skills.
The President also highlighted ongoing upgrades to roads, rail lines and power infrastructure, which he described as essential for linking markets and boosting national productivity.
He further noted that diplomatic engagements are underway to counter misleading narratives that portray Nigeria as a nation divided along religious lines.
Farmer herder conflicts have intensified over the years as pressure on land, climate change and diminishing grazing areas drive pastoralists further south.
Previous attempts to address the crisis, including the suspended RUGA initiative, failed to gain wide acceptance.
In March 2025, the government partnered with Brazilian firm JBJ Brazil to develop a large scale cattle ranch in Niger State as part of the broader livestock reforms now being advanced.
