The Federal Government has announced plans to accelerate the rollout of the National Ranching Programme in Kwara State as part of efforts to tackle insecurity and recurring attacks in rural communities.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, explaining that the intervention will focus on ranching and structured livestock management as long-term solutions to violence linked to pastoral activities.
According to the minister, the programme will prioritise ranch establishment, livestock enumeration, digital tagging, and organised settlements to improve accountability within the livestock sector.
Maiha said the initiative is designed to promote sedentarisation, enhance traceability, strengthen disease control, and improve intelligence gathering by law-enforcement agencies.
He noted that the Federal Government’s strategy goes beyond immediate security responses and aims to address the root causes of recurring clashes in rural areas.
The minister added that livestock enumeration and digital tagging would enable authorities to monitor animal movement, prevent criminal infiltration, and strengthen coordination among security agencies.
He explained that the decision to fast-track implementation in Kwara followed recent deadly attacks in parts of the state, stressing that structured ranching would help stabilise affected communities and prevent further violence.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, welcomed the federal intervention and pledged the state government’s support for the programme.
He said the state would collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure effective implementation, integrate local governments, and promote community participation.
The Federal Government also stated that the ranching initiative would deliver economic benefits, including improved livestock productivity, enhanced food security, stronger market integration, and broader economic opportunities.
Officials said the programme aligns with national efforts to modernise the livestock sector, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and reduce farmer-herder conflicts across the country.
The announcement comes amid rising security concerns following reports that suspected members of Boko Haram recently released a video showing abducted victims from Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
