Abuja: The Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) has called for the implementation of a comprehensive ranching reform as a strategic pathway to economic transformation, food security, and national stability. The Programme Officer of the initiative, Mr. Farouk Bala, made the call at a news conference in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bala highlighted that the open grazing system in the country has led to recurring tensions between farmers and pastoralists, particularly in the North-Central region. Between 2018 and 2023, an estimated 3,000 people lost their lives in farmer-herder clashes across North-Central states, with over 300,000 people displaced. Bala referenced findings by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and data from the Nigerian Security Tracker (2024) to support these claims.
Bala noted that structured ranching is being increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative that can reduce conflicts over land and water resources while promoting peaceful coexistence and economic modernization. He commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to ranching reform, with Kwara State chosen as the pilot state for this initiative.
Resistance to ranching reform, according to Bala, often stems from misinformation rather than outright rejection, as many farmers and herders lack adequate information on its long-term economic and security benefits. The Federal Government disclosed that Nigeria’s livestock sector contributes over 32 billion dollars to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (2025-2030), the sector could potentially grow its contribution to between 74 billion dollars and 94 billion dollars within a decade if properly structured.
Drawing global comparisons, Bala cited Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, which recorded approximately 9.3 billion dollars in beef exports in 2024. The United States exported 7.2 billion dollars worth of beef, and Australia about eight billion dollars during the same period. Uruguay earned 2.85 billion dollars through high-quality, traceable beef production. In contrast, despite Nigeria’s cattle population being estimated at 20 million and ranking among the top 15 globally, only 172,000 dollars was generated from cow exports in 2024, with less than 200,000 dollars from meat and edible offal exports.
Bala emphasized that structured ranching will enhance revenue generation, boost foreign exchange earnings, and reduce dependence on imported dairy and meat products, while also stimulating job creation across the livestock value chain. Structured ranching shifts livestock production from a subsistence practice to a modern, commercially viable enterprise capable of contributing significantly to GDP growth. Beyond economic gains, ranching is considered a critical national security intervention.
He explained that designated ranching zones would prevent encroachment on farmlands, reduce violent confrontations, and introduce accountability and traceability into livestock management. Bala clarified that the ranching reform is neither a cultural eradication policy nor a land-grab agenda, but a development-oriented initiative aimed at modernizing livestock production while preserving livelihoods and social cohesion.
Bala called for an inclusive stakeholder engagement involving pastoral associations, farmers’ groups, traditional rulers, state governments, and civil society organizations. He also suggested nationwide public sensitization through the National Orientation Agency and media institutions, along with clear land tenure frameworks, infrastructure development, and incentive-driven voluntary adoption.
Mr. Mukhtar Madobi, a Research Fellow at the CCC, reported that the persistent farmer-herder conflict, particularly across North Central and parts of the North West, remains a major driver of communal clashes. He quoted the CCC’s January 2026 edition of the independent media assessment, indicating that many crises during the period were triggered by disputes over farmland encroachment, crop destruction, and retaliatory attacks linked to open grazing practices.
Madobi noted that continued reliance on open grazing remains a significant source of tension between farming and herding communities. The CCC observed that ranching reforms hold strong potential for economic transformation, environmental protection, and long-term stability in affected regions. He also mentioned that several Nigerian security and emergency agencies received predominantly positive media attention due to their measurable operational outputs, revenue performance, and sustained enforcement actions.