The Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) has advocated for full-scale ranching reforms as a vital step toward achieving economic transformation, improved food security, and lasting national stability in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the group’s Programme Officer, Farouk Bala, highlighted how the long-standing open grazing system has continued to trigger violent clashes between farmers and herders, especially across the North-Central region.
Bala cited worrying statistics: between 2018 and 2023, farmer-herder conflicts claimed around 3,000 lives and displaced more than 300,000 people in North-Central states. He referenced the 2024 Nigeria Watch Report, which recorded 567 deaths linked to such violence across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory in a single year.
“These numbers are not just statistics — they reflect shattered lives, ruined livelihoods, and broken communities,” Bala said.
He described structured ranching as a modern, sustainable solution that could ease competition over land and water resources, foster peaceful coexistence between communities, and modernise the livestock sector.
Bala praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for prioritising ranching reform, noting that Kwara State has been chosen as the pilot location. He attributed much of the resistance to the policy to lack of proper information rather than total opposition, stressing that many farmers and herders are yet to fully understand its long-term economic and security advantages.
According to government figures, Nigeria’s livestock sector currently contributes over $32 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (2025–2030), this contribution could rise significantly to between $74 billion and $94 billion within the next decade with proper implementation.
Bala drew international comparisons to underscore the potential:
– Brazil earned about $9.3 billion from beef exports in 2024 as the world’s top exporter.
– The United States recorded $7.2 billion, while Australia generated roughly $8 billion.
– Uruguay earned $2.85 billion from high-quality, traceable beef.
In contrast, despite having an estimated 20 million cattle — one of the largest herds globally — Nigeria earned just $172,000 from live cattle exports and less than $200,000 from meat and edible offal in 2024.
“Properly structured ranching will unlock greater revenue, increase foreign exchange earnings, cut down on imported dairy and meat, and create thousands of jobs across the entire livestock value chain — from ranch operations and veterinary services to feed production, processing, logistics, and leather goods,” Bala explained.
He added that the reform goes beyond economics, describing it as a national security measure that would prevent farmland encroachment, reduce violent confrontations, and bring greater accountability and traceability to livestock management.
Bala emphasised that the proposed ranching policy is not aimed at erasing cultural practices or seizing land, but rather at modernising the sector while protecting livelihoods and promoting social harmony. He called for broad stakeholder consultations involving pastoral groups, farmers’ associations, traditional leaders, state governments, and civil society.
He also recommended nationwide public awareness campaigns through the National Orientation Agency and the media, alongside clear land tenure policies, supporting infrastructure, and incentives to encourage voluntary participation.
“Inclusive dialogue, transparency, and effective implementation can turn ranching reform into a unifying national project instead of a source of division,” Bala stated.
Also speaking at the event, Research Fellow at the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Mukhtar Madobi, noted that open grazing remains a major trigger for communal clashes, particularly in the North-Central and parts of the North-West.
Madobi referenced the CCC’s January 2026 independent media assessment, which linked many recent crises to disputes over crop destruction and retaliatory attacks stemming from open grazing practices.
He added that beyond security improvements, ranching reforms offer strong prospects for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and long-term peace in affected areas.
Madobi further highlighted positive media coverage for several Nigerian security and emergency agencies in January, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
He said enforcement-focused agencies such as NCS, NDLEA, and NSCDC stood out for their strong operational results, revenue generation, and proactive communication.
