Grazing of cattle is not a new phenomenon in the
(FCT). Herdsmen and their animals have always
been in the suburbs of the capital city. There
have also been clashes between them and
farmers.
The new scenario in the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) Abuja, however, is that the herdsmen,
seemingly uncomfortable in the suburbs, have
moved to the city centre. And they have become
more daring, since the advent of the President
Buhari-led administration.
Their cattle now dot the landscape, nibbling away
at lawns that cost millions of naira, and meant for
beautification. Sometimes, they can be
found between residential apartments, devouring
crops such as maize planted by house owners as
source of extra cash. They also leave behind
mounds of smelly excrement.
Residents appear helpless, as any attempt to
challenge the herdsmen almost certainly results in
the cowboys drawing daggers, ready to slaughter
anyone that dares them. Consequently, the
aggrieved person makes a quick calculation
between his life’s worth and maize plants, and
chooses to remain silent.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
claims it has banned grazing within the city centre.
The activities of the herdsmen, however, remain
unchecked. From Airport Road to the National
Stadium, and to the National Hospital, cows can
be seen in their numbers grazing unhindered. They
also have grazing rights in areas around Ministers’
Hill to Kubwa Expressway.
Indeed, anywhere grass is available, in and around
the FCT, is their grazing zone. The CBN
headquarters, the Federal Secretariat, FCDA – even
the premises of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport are all
fields for grazing. The Army also seems helpless,
as the premises of its Defense Headquarters are
not spared. Herdsmen and their cattle stray into
security zones, causing traffic gridlocks, leaving
behind trails of dung.
The former Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Engr.
John Chukwu, in a statement issued September 17,
2015, warned herdsmen grazing their cattle in and
around the city to desist or face the full wrath of
the law. The law, sadly, is still bottling its wrath.
The statement reads in part: “Considering the
improper grazing of cattle in the city centre and
environs, there is need to halt further public
nuisance and hazards to road users.”
The administration said the practice has adversely
affected the environment and must not be allowed
to continue, stressing that Abuja is the capital of
Nigeria and the window through which the world
views the country. The statement noted that Abuja
city is not meant for cattle grazing because there
are designated areas for such activities in the
Abuja Master Plan.
Though Chukwu’s threat was not the first, he gave
a directive to the Abuja Environmental Protection
Board (AEPB), to ensure full compliance. But close
to a year, since the directive was issued, the
agency still has its arms folded. Its excuse is that
non-availability of mobile courts has prevented it
from performing its statutory functions. Part of the
agency’s mandate is: control stray animals within
the Territory, in line with the AEPB Act of 1997.
AEPB’s Acting Director, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun,
was “not on seat” when The Guardian visited the
office. She did not pick her calls or respond to text
messages.
A source at the agency, however, said the
environmental watchdog is handicapped, as cattle
arrested in the past were bailed by some big men
in town. The source said staff of the agency are
constantly attacked by the herdsmen and have
often been cut with machetes.
“We all know these cows belong to rich people.
You can’t imagine the calibre of people that come
around to bail them when we make arrests. It is a
shame. Our staff are being careful. Nobody wants
to die on this job. We don’t carry arms. So,
imagine us confronting these people with poison-
tipped daggers and other weapons. I don’t know
what we can do. Honestly, we are in a serious
trouble. Considering the status of the FCT, they
mess up the entire city with dung and it’s so
annoying and irritating.”
Due to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and
farmers across the country, there have been calls
for a Grazing Reserve Bill that would allow cattle
owners to build ranches, thereby discouraging free-
range cattle rearing. To this end, former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar, in collaboration with
some Portuguese partners, did a ground breaking
of a 50-tonne/per hour animal feed. With another
20-tonne/per hour plant in Yola, Atiku said his
desire is to have the factories in zones across the
country. This move, he believes, will end the spate
of conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.
Finding herdsmen and their cattle in the FCT is a
piece of cake. Some of them are as young as
seven-years-old and may be male or female. The
Guardian engaged one along Airport Road with the
help of an interpreter. The herder insisted money is
exchanged before he would talk. When he realised
nothing of such would happen, he began a rant in
his dialect. The name ‘Buhari’ was the only thing
the reporter made out.
Culled from: The Guardian
