FG to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves, resuscitate 144,000 hectares Gombe grazing reserve 

Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, weekend, disclosed moves to resuscitate the
 144,000 hectares Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve in Gombe State. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, made this known as he went on an inspection tour of the facilities in the grazing reserve, where he was displeased with the dilapidated infrastructure, thereby, would rehabilitate the road networks, primary health care facilities, a veterinary clinic, classrooms, solar energy systems, and, the provision of water for both human and animal consumption. According to him, it is part of ongoing efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector and rehabilitate the nation’s grazing reserves, he also maintained that the Tinubu-led administration is seriously working hard to revamp the livestock by adding value to the various grazing reserves across the country to international standards and to make the sector attractive and lucrative. The Minister also said that the reserve which spans 144,000 hectares and currently hosts over 5,000 herders engaged in both farming and livestock rearing, which would be repurposed to support breed improvement centres, pasture cultivation, and other services that discourage seasonal migration of herders.
Meanwhile, the move is under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, NL-GAS, which aims to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves across Nigeria. It will recalled that in May 2025, the Minister was on tour in Plateau State for the launch of the Wase Livestock Village, a flagship model that is already setting the standard for integrated livestock settlements. The revitalisation of grazing reserves like Wawa-Zange is expected to generate employment across livestock value chains, boost food security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from migratory herding, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. He said “by every standard, these residents deserve all the amenities that a modern grazing reserve should offer. “Wawa-Zange should come back to life. We want this reserve to become a model of sustainability.” 
Speaking on the relationship between armer-herder, he (Maiha) explained why it is important to choose a non-confrontational, collaborative approach instead of displacing farmers who have encroached on parts of the reserve, and added that the government will encourage a system of shared land use, where farmers provide residual crop feed for the herders, while herders, in turn, supply manure to enrich the farmers’ soil.  According to him, the strategy would bring about mutual and beneficial exchange that aligns with the Ministry’s broader objective of promoting peaceful coexistence, reducing conflicts, and enhancing productivity across both the livestock and crop value chains.