A non-partisan advocacy organization, the National Security and Development Group (NSDG), has expressed its support for the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in his call to end open grazing throughout the country.
The NSDG emphasized that open grazing presents significant risks to lives and properties nationwide.
At a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, Chuks Oyema, the secretary of NSDG, praised General Musa, stating that, “As a seasoned and experienced General, he is well-equipped to propose effective solutions to the ongoing crisis.”
Speaking further, he said the ban on open grazing is long overdue.
“We want to say that history will remember Gen. Musa for his sincerity on this issue,” he said.
Speaking further, he said the ban on open grazing is long overdue.
“For so long, this burning issue has resulted in loss of properties and lives.
“The issue of open grazing for long has rendered sources of livelihood useless.
“The owners of animals who illegally encroach on farmlands and farmers have been at the receiving end of this contentious issue.
“For how long are we going to shy away from saying the obvious truth?, he asked.
According to Chuks Oyema, it is not just the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who acknowledges the damage caused by open grazing in Nigeria.
“Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, who represents the Niger East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has also joined the call for a ban on open grazing,” he stated.
“In 2021, Northern governors, after a virtual meeting, deemed open grazing by herdsmen as outdated and called for its termination,” he added.
Oyema continued, “In 2025, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger reiterated the importance of educating the Fulani community to adopt cattle ranching for better livestock management and to address security concerns. Governor Bago described ranching as the most effective and advanced approach for livestock, emphasizing its potential to generate additional income for the Fulani people through value chain production.”
He also noted that Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, during the conclusion of the 3-Day National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security organized by the House Committee, urged the National Assembly to pass legislation banning open grazing. This measure, he argued, is essential to tackling the ongoing issues of kidnappings and violent attacks attributed to armed herdsmen.
Oyema highlighted the severe consequences of open grazing, citing that over the past five years, conflicts related to this practice have resulted in the loss of no fewer than 2,800 lives, based on reported incidents in 2025 and data from Nextier on deaths from 2020 to 2024. He pointed out that, despite the anti-open grazing laws enacted by 19 states, enforcement has been lacking.
“According to Nextier’s Violent Conflict Database, between 2020 and 2024, there were 359 incidents associated with open grazing in Nigeria, resulting in 2,349 fatalities. In 2024 alone, 61 incidents led to 467 deaths related to the open grazing of cattle and livestock,” he concluded.
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