The Federal Government has clarified that it has not imposed a nationwide ban on open grazing, dismissing media reports that suggested otherwise.

The clarification was issued on Tuesday by Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, who stated that the Minister, Alhaji Idi Maiha, has not announced any such policy.

“Instead, the government is implementing a gradual, structured transition from open grazing to modern ranching systems,” Uchechukwu said.

He explained that Nigeria currently has 273 gazetted grazing reserves covering over 4.5 million hectares, and the Federal Government is working with state governments to revitalise and equip these reserves to make them conducive for pastoralists and other livestock operators.

According to the statement, the transition plan does not abolish open grazing immediately, but provides viable alternatives aimed at boosting productivity, reducing conflicts, and creating a sustainable livestock ecosystem.

Alhaji Maiha stressed the need for a structured business environment for pastoralists, noting that legally provided grazing reserves were designed to serve as business premises for livestock activities. “Our responsibility is to upgrade these reserves and facilitate their proper utilisation,” he said.

The Ministry urged Nigerians to disregard misleading reports and rely on official communication channels for accurate updates on livestock development.

Nigeria has previously attempted to modernise its livestock sector through initiatives such as the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which promoted ranching to curb farmer–herder conflicts, and the proposed RUGA settlements, which were later suspended due to strong opposition especially from southern states over land rights and security concerns.

The newly re-established Ministry of Livestock Development has maintained that open grazing will be phased out eventually, but reiterated that the process will be gradual, not an abrupt nationwide ban.