Presidency, Miyetti Allah in Talks to End Straying Cows in Abuja and Tackle Out-of-School Children Crisis

The Presidency has opened talks with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to address the recurring problem of straying cows in Abuja and the rising number of out-of-school children among pastoralist families.

The meeting, held at the instance of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is also Chairman of MACBAN’s Board of Trustees, brought together the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, senior government officials, education experts, and herders’ leaders from all six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking on behalf of the Presidency, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Livestock Development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, stressed the government’s determination to find a lasting solution. He said the administration was pursuing ranching initiatives, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, the revival of grazing reserves, and provision of feeds and veterinary services to provide herders with safe and modern spaces for their livestock.

“We are here for a stakeholders’ engagement meeting to dialogue with livestock stakeholders and explain the efforts of the Tinubu administration,” Abiola-Ajimobi said. “We must first solve the issue of grazing reserves. We are working on ranches, providing social amenities, water, veterinary clinics and healthcare.”

The government also linked livestock reforms with education. Special Assistant to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, said pastoralist families would be encouraged to move to grazing reserves if amenities such as nomadic schools, electricity, dams and clinics were provided. “Education is the key component. We must ensure every child is in functional learning,” he said.

However, doubts remain over the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. Past efforts, including the “Ruga” settlement scheme and the “National Livestock Transformation Plan” under former President Muhammadu Buhari, collapsed due to funding challenges, political resistance and lack of implementation.

MACBAN National President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, admitted that pastoralist families were central to both the cattle roaming crisis and Nigeria’s education problem, noting that as many as 80 per cent of the country’s estimated 20 million out-of-school children come from herding communities. He said the association was committed to working with the government to make Abuja a model city free of roaming cattle and would set up a committee to recommend practical measures to end the practice.