Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has renewed calls for a decisive national policy to end open grazing, describing it as one of Nigeria’s most persistent security liabilities.
In a recent legislative study visit to Morocco, the Senator said the contrast was unmistakable. Across a 300-kilometre journey from Marrakesh to Casablanca, he observed a livestock system that was organised, enclosed, and fully integrated into national security planning. No roaming cattle, no herd clusters obstructing highways, and no animals exploited as shields for criminal activity — everything was structured and regulated.
Karimi argued that Nigeria continues to defend outdated practices with emotion rather than evidence, even as the consequences escalate. The farmer–herder conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, shrinking agricultural productivity, and forest corridors turned into operational hubs for armed groups.
According to him, the debate is no longer cultural. “This is a national security emergency,” he stressed, urging the country to confront the crisis with honesty and political courage.
He noted that ranching is not a luxury and that nations with fewer resources have already transitioned to modern livestock management systems. Nigeria, he said, has both the capacity and the land to do the same — what is lacking is the will to implement long-delayed reforms.
Karimi emphasised that ending open grazing would protect not only farmers but also herders, who often become casualties of avoidable clashes. It would also eliminate the ungoverned forest movement that criminals exploit to carry out kidnappings and attacks.
He concluded that leadership requires taking tough decisions that save lives, ensure food security, and stabilise rural communities. Nigeria, he warned, must end the politics of self-deception and fully embrace ranching if it genuinely seeks peace.
“The time to act is now,” he said.
