The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has urged the National Assembly to enact legislation banning open grazing and formally adopt ranching as a national policy to tackle Nigeria’s worsening food insecurity.
Speaking through the Executive Director of Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches, Major General Olufemi Dare, at the National Summit on Food, Nutrition, and Food Security held in Abuja, Oluyede stressed that open grazing was no longer sustainable given current security and agricultural challenges.
“Even if all security agencies are deployed to farms, we cannot cover every farmland,” the COAS warned. “The solution lies in addressing the root causes—ranching offers a more sustainable and secure path.”
He noted that the Nigerian Army has created special formations to mitigate farmer-herder clashes, which continue to threaten food production and rural stability.Also speaking at the summit, the Chief of Naval Staff, represented by Rear Admiral Yusuf Sani Idris, shared the Navy’s ongoing efforts through Admiralty Farms Limited, which now operates farms across nearly all six geopolitical zones.
He said the initiative enhances both food production and physical security for farmers, with plans for further expansion.From the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commandant General Besong Ogar, representing the Commandant General, emphasized the importance of timely intelligence sharing in securing farmlands.
He appealed to lawmakers to streamline herder and farmer activities, especially amid rising tensions over cattle routes in the Middle Belt, Northeast, and Northwest.In his closing remarks, Dr. Chike Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, reaffirmed the committee’s resolve to enhance national food security.
He stressed that peace and security are essential for both farmers and security operatives to operate effectively.
The summit brought together security stakeholders and policymakers to chart sustainable strategies for ensuring food availability, safety, and rural stability.
Reporting by Tanimu Salihu