Federal Government has identified six major farmers-herders conflict hotspots for priority intervention as part of a renewed push to end recurring clashes and transform Nigeria’s livestock sector through modern ranching.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this yesterday after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on the activities of the ministry and progress in implementing the National Ranching Policy.

Maiha listed Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as priority areas for the intervention because of their history of farmers-herders’ conflicts.

He said the Federal Government had identified 417 grazing reserves across the country and commenced a pilot ranching scheme in Plateau State as a proof of concept for a new livestock production model aimed at reducing cattle movement and tackling a major trigger of rural conflicts.

The minister said the government was also intensifying consultations with pastoral communities, having engaged about 34 pastoral organisations to secure their buy-in for the transition from open grazing and nomadic livestock production to ranching.

According to him, the ministry recently held consultations with pastoralists under the leadership of the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, with another round of engagement expected within the next two weeks.