Niger To Gazette 14 Grazing Reserves, End Farmer-Herder Clashes

Niger State government through its Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, is set to gazette all 23 designated grazing reserves across the state and make them active in a fresh move to reduce farmers and herders’ clashes.

The commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, on the proposed gazetting of the Barakwai and Adunu Grazing Reserves.

He explained that the state has 23 grazing reserves, of which nine have been gazetted, while the ministry is taking the necessary steps to complete the gazetting of the remaining reserves, beginning with Barakwai, Adunu and Gbako local government areas.

Mammagi, therefore, appealed to the Minna Emirate to support the initiative by cascading the information to the affected district, village heads and their communities ahead of the commencement of the exercise.

He emphasised that the ministry considered it important to consult the traditional institutions to ensure the full participation and cooperation of the host communities.

Responding, Dr Bahago commended the ministry for the initiative and appreciated the courtesy visit. He urged the district and village heads of the affected communities to adequately sensitise their people to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of the programme.

The emir also advised the ministry to sustain regular engagement with the emirate by keeping the traditional institution informed of the progress of the gazetting exercise and other related programmes.