The Federal Government has commenced a phased development of grazing reserves across the country, beginning with three pilot locations in Gombe, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, as part of a broader, inter-ministerial effort involving state governments and the private sector.
Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu. “It’s a phased approach. We can’t take all of them at once. There are 417 grazing reserves, and we intend to cover all of them. Starting with a couple of them as pilots: Wawa-Zange (Gombe State), Wase (Plateau State), and Kawu in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory,” she stated.
According to her, work has already begun in the three pilot locations, with collaboration extending beyond the federal level. “These are the three that we’ve started working on, and we’re doing it in collaboration with the state government, as well as the private sector. So over the years, as we get more funding and improved partnerships, we will spread to the other grazing reserves. But these are like the model for how the others will look.”
She explained that the development plan extends beyond livestock concerns and includes social infrastructure designed to improve living conditions for pastoral communities.
“So, it’s not just even the ministry, it’s an inter-ministerial activity, because we’re thinking of ensuring that these grazing reserves have good public schools for the pastoralists, for their children to attend. We’re trying to see that we have access roads. We’re trying to see that we have public healthcare,” Uchechukwu stated.
Housing and renewable energy are also part of the pilot projects, she said. “We’re trying to see that we have houses for the pastoralists to dwell in. We have signed a partnership for the solarisation of the Kawu grazing reserve in Abuja, and we’ll probably replicate it in the other grazing reserves that we’re working on. So, it’s a lot of money. The federal government will not bear the cost alone.”
Uchechukwu stressed that funding will be shared among multiple stakeholders to reduce the burden on the federal government. “We’re partnering with the state government and the private sector. So, I think as soon as we provide basic infrastructure in those grazing reserves, the private sector will be encouraged also to come in and pitch in terms of providing some structure to the abattoir and all of that.”
She noted that the cost of infrastructure development would be high. “If you’re thinking of constructing roads, healthcare facilities, schools, and housing units for these pastoralists, it will definitely run into millions of Naira. And other infrastructure too. Like the Kawu grazing reserve, we’re supposed to desilt.”
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