Abuja: Chief Emeka Obegolu, President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has advocated for the establishment of structured grazing reserves as a solution to ongoing farmer-herder conflicts throughout the country. Obegolu emphasized that reforms in ranching could enhance security and drive rural development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Obegolu stated at a news conference in Abuja that open grazing remains a significant factor contributing to rural insecurity. This practice has led to communal clashes, farmland destruction, and the displacement of rural populations and farmers. He elaborated that effectively managed ranches could not only boost meat and dairy productivity but also create numerous jobs within the livestock value chain, reduce pressure on farmland, and eliminate a primary source of rural conflict.
Obegolu urged the private sector and other stakeholders to support livestock development, asserting that their involvement could transform the livestock sector to become more efficient, productive, and sustainable. He emphasized that private investment could enhance financing, innovation, and efficiency, which are critical for modernizing livestock production.
He highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement for successful implementation and called for strong political will to end open grazing. Obegolu reaffirmed that the chamber is the authoritative voice of the business community in the Federal Capital Territory and highlighted the chamber’s 2026 goal to protect small businesses, particularly those in vulnerable sectors.
The chamber’s mandate includes promoting growth, safeguarding enterprise interests, and ensuring that government policies translate into meaningful economic progress. Throughout 2025, ACCI maintained active engagement with public and private sector stakeholders through advocacy interventions and structured dialogues.
Obegolu noted that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. The chamber has intensified interventions to address issues through capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs and the reactivation of the ACCI MSME Desk and business clinics.
He called on the government to adopt pro-growth policies that support enterprise, encourage investment, and stimulate productivity. As the country approaches 2026, he urged the government to focus on establishing and expanding Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicle conversion centers. He suggested introducing targeted subsidies to make conversions more affordable, which would enable widespread adoption, particularly among public transport operators, taxis, buses, and ride-hailing fleets.
The ACCI president also pointed out that strategic partnerships between the government and the private sector could reduce operational costs, build technical capacity, and accelerate the nationwide adoption of CNG and electric mobility. He added that this transition would not only lower transportation and production costs but also contribute to stabilizing the macroeconomic environment.
Obegolu concluded by reaffirming the chamber’s commitment to championing the interests of businesses and fostering an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive.