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‘A security imperative’ — Defence chief backs ranching to end farmer-herder clashes

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), has called for the immediate establishment of ranches across Nigeria, describing it as a long-term solution to the country’s recurring farmer-herder clashes.

Speaking at a national security dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, Musa said open grazing is no longer viable given Nigeria’s rising population, rapid urbanisation, and growing land-use conflicts.

“We must embrace modern livestock practices. Creating ranches across the country is not just an agricultural necessity, but a security imperative,” the CDS stated.

Clashes between farmers and herders—especially in the North Central and parts of the South—have resulted in thousands of deaths, destroyed farmlands, and widespread displacement over the last decade.

Musa noted that while peacebuilding efforts have been attempted, the absence of a structural solution continues to fuel the crisis.

He warned that the military cannot be expected to carry the burden of resolving what is ultimately a governance challenge.

“We cannot continue to deploy troops endlessly to solve what is essentially a governance and development issue,” he said.

Security experts at the dialogue backed the CDS’s position, urging the National Assembly to fast-track laws enabling ranch development and improved land-use regulation.

The federal government had previously launched the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), which proposed pilot ranches and grazing reserves. But political opposition and land ownership disputes have stalled progress.

As the pressure mounts to address one of Nigeria’s deadliest internal conflicts, General Musa’s call is expected to reignite national debate over the future of livestock management.

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