•Roaming cattle pose security risk to residents, graze openly on Abuja streets
From Idu Jude, Abuja
Miss Joy Olorunfemi, a graduate of Microbiology, Montreal University, Canada, is in Nigeria for a compulsory one-year national service. She has a strange challenge, keeping animals away from the streets of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Her discomfort might not be in isolation as this could as well be a major feeling of many FCT residents. Wondered how this has become a new normal. Indeed, no one can explain why cattle still roam Abuja streets after herders and their cattle have been banned from doing so by the authorities.
Two years ago, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, banned open grazing within the city centre. Regardless, cows continue to roam the streets of Nigeria’s capital freely, in blatant disregard of the directive.
Cows continue to graze openly in many other areas including Wuse 2, Garki, AYA Asokoro Bwari, Guzape, Airport Road, Gwarimpa and Dei Dei. It is also the case in other rapidly growing satellite towns in the FCT. In some cases, vehicles are forced to stop to allow cows, which are mostly shepherded by young boys, to cross the road.
Residents attribute the inaction to the politicisation of the issue, suggesting that “directive is perceived as targeting a certain ethnic group” predominantly engaged in cattle rearing. Some residents propose more practical solutions, such as coordinating herders’ movements and activities.
In 2016, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, prohibited open grazing of cattle within Abuja, following series of complaints by residents.
According to Olorunfemi: “Building roads and structures does not make a city, but the implementation of policies and respect for extant laws make such structures worthwhile. It makes no sense seeing Nigerians talk about the development of other great nations. Knowing full well that this was not rocket science.
“Some people sit down and plan cities with regulations to protect such infrastructure. Some structures are monuments that attract tourists, but in our case, tourists are meant to watch cows struggle with motorists in the metropolis.”
Dr. Stephen Adaji resides in Mpape, not oblivious to the tradition of the failed implementation of regulations in Nigeria. He warned that the FCT might not benefit from much infrastructure if the world runs away from the capital city of Nigeria:
“Putting infrastructure is a business venture and attracts huge amounts of money. Countries develop cities and bid to host the Olympics or the World Cup to attract tourists. Such brings huge economic benefits after the world event.
“I can count countries that overcame their economic challenges by borrowing money from the World Bank and IMF to build infrastructure. Such monies were recovered after hosting some world events. So when we build roads and other structures, we shouldn’t release cows on the streets to threaten the lives of the people.”
Mr. Solomon Dung, has his office in Garki Area 10: “The issue of cattle and open grazing is a typical Nigerian issue. It is a big business for the brothers in the North, especially politicians. The issue lies in the fact that those who own these cows are the strong and mighty in the country.
“The truth is that government can’t do anything. How effective such a ban can be? It was made in 2016, but we are in 2025. Go to the National Assembly, the Central Bank and in front of the police headquarters, you will see cows grazing, moving around because there are no grasses to graze.”
Although the Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), had said that the minister had provided some alternative locations for cattle grazing.
But some say the practice is a serious threat to food production and security as the animals graze on farms, causing wanton destruction as they eat up crops, resulting in clashes and untimely deaths of helpless farmers.
Jonathan Imagwe, a driver, said: “Activities of these herders are affecting my business. Most times, they block the roads through which supplies are made. I don’t know if it’s because the president is a Muslim and has soft spots for Fulani people that give them the right to allow cows to move around the city.
“The problem has not been revolved. This has constituted a menace to residents. Government has not able to enforce its laws and regulations when it comes to these cows.”
A civil defence corps official lamented: “The worst thing is that those cattle arrested are released just within one hour 30 minutes. Once they are arrested, calls will come from above to release them. The next day, they cover the streets of Abuja again.
“Some of our men who were members of the task force lost their lives after being attacked with poisonous knives. And the authority did not do anything about it.
So this time, it’s like even Wike is tired of the Nigerian thing. Even with the creation of the livestock ministry, as requested by the Northerners, things remain unabated.”
Alhaji Wakili Mudugu, chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), FCT chapter, said: “The association has an existing understanding that has yielded fruits since the ban on cattle grazing in the city centres. He told our reporter that its members remain law-abiding but with few reports of recalcitrant ones who are passing through Abuja to other states”
Two years ago, MACBAN gave its nod to the Wike to deal with herders allowing their cows to graze in the city centre. It, however, raised concerns that the areas mapped out for the herders to graze their cows on the outskirts of Abuja have been taken over by farmers and needed to be addressed.
When the Daily Sun sought comments of Director, AEPB, Osi Braimah, he declined, noting that he was acting on a standing order from the minister barring directors from doing so without approval.