In a bold step aimed at ending the persistent and deadly clashes between farmers and herders, eleven Nigerian states have signaled their readiness to embrace ranching as a long-term solution.
According to findings by Hobnob News, the states of Lagos, Plateau, Ondo, Zamfara, Bauchi, Delta, Niger, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Anambra have either allocated land for ranching, made formal commitments, or are in the process of crafting policies to support ranching as a sustainable agricultural venture.
The move comes amid growing concerns over recurrent violence, particularly in the Middle Belt region, where states like Benue and Plateau have suffered significant loss of lives and property due to armed herder attacks.
Government officials and agricultural stakeholders view the adoption of ranching as a strategic and peaceful alternative to open grazing — a practice often blamed for igniting deadly land disputes between nomadic herders and crop farmers.
Experts say that, beyond curbing violence, ranching could modernize Nigeria’s livestock industry, create jobs, and improve food security. With insecurity threatening rural development and agricultural productivity, proponents argue that structured ranching is no longer optional but essential.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s decades-long struggle to resolve the herder-farmer conflict and chart a path toward peaceful coexistence in agrarian communities.
