By In the heart of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, a familiar scene unfolds as a herd of cattle crosses a busy intersection, causing traffic to grind to a halt. For Ismail Abubakar, the teenage herder guiding them, it’s just another day navigating the urban landscape.
Abubakar’s presence in the city center is not by choice but necessity. His family, originally from Katsina State in northern Nigeria, moved to Abuja’s outskirts years ago as climate change turned their traditional grazing lands into barren desert. Now, urban development in Abuja’s once-rural areas has pushed them further into the city proper.
“Our settlement at Idu was destroyed and the bush we used for grazing our cattle cut down to pave the way for new houses,” Abubakar explains in Pidgin English. His family now resides on a hill on the city’s periphery, forced to roam main streets for pasture.
This scenario exemplifies the growing conflict between traditional pastoral practices and modern urban development in Nigeria. Fulani herders like Abubakar, who traditionally dominate West Africa’s cattle industry, are finding their nomadic lifestyle increasingly untenable.
Baba Ngelzarma, president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, describes the situation as “disheartening.” He criticizes the government’s failure to harness the potential of the livestock industry by not providing necessary infrastructure and incentives.
Nigeria boasts over 20 million cows, with the fourth-largest cattle population in Africa and a dairy market valued at $1.5 billion. However, the industry’s inefficiency is evident, with nearly 90% of local demand met through imports, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
The impact of this inefficiency extends beyond the economy. In Abuja, cattle on roads cause traffic disruptions and damage to urban landscaping. In other parts of Nigeria, conflicts between herders and farmers over land access have turned violent, often exacerbating religious and ethnic divisions.
Despite the existence of four designated grazing reserves in rural areas surrounding Abuja, these lack necessary infrastructure and have been encroached upon by farmers and illegal settlers. This leaves herders like Mohammed Abbas, 67, constantly on the move as development claims their temporary settlements.
“I have to sell all my cows and that means nothing will be left to put on the land,” Abbas says in Hausa, explaining his inability to afford land for permanent settlement and ranching in Abuja.
The government has promised solutions, including fenced-off reserves for cattle herders. President Bola Tinubu announced a new livestock development ministry in July, but no minister has been appointed yet.
Real estate developer Folawiyo Daniel and housing advocate Festus Adebayo argue that the issue stems from a failure in urban planning. They call for the revival of grazing reserves within the city and urge Abuja’s minister, Nyesom Wike, to take decisive action.
Herders express openness to restricted forms of herding or operating like standard businesses that purchase their own feedstock. However, they emphasize the need for government support and incentives, similar to those provided to other industries.
As Abuja continues to expand, the clash between traditional herding practices and urban development intensifies. The situation underscores the complex challenges Nigeria faces in balancing modernization with traditional livelihoods, all against the backdrop of climate change and rapid urbanization.
Source: apnews.com
