“Governance Is Not Easy, We Must Tread Cautiously” – Wike on Open Grazing in FCT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says he is taking a cautious approach to tackling the issue of open grazing in Abuja, acknowledging the complex nature of governance in Nigeria. Speaking during his monthly press briefing in the capital on Monday, Wike said that while many citizens are frustrated by the sight of cattle roaming the streets, addressing the issue requires careful navigation of Nigeria’s socio-political landscape.

“The country we are in is not an easy one; no rational person will be happy seeing cows on the roads,” Wike stated. “There are so many complications that you have to tread cautiously and be very careful in understanding the complexities of our nation, especially now that we are dealing with multiple crises.”

He emphasized that while the administration is doing everything possible to end open grazing in the city, decisions must be made with care to avoid worsening existing challenges. “Nobody is happy about it, but governance is not like running a private business. You must proceed cautiously, and we are doing everything we can,” he said.

The minister also revealed that a designated grazing reserve of about 1,000 hectares had been allocated before his tenure, but the land is now the subject of disputes. “If I tell you the fight we are currently facing, you won’t believe it. Land grabbers have encroached on it, and it’s a serious problem. But it will be sorted out—we just have to tread cautiously,” he added.