THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called for the adoption of cattle ranching as a key step toward ending recurring clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit scheduled for August 25–27, 2025, Musa stressed that ranching would not only boost productivity but also curb security challenges linked to open grazing.
He explained that moving cattle over long distances weakens them and reduces milk production, making ranching a win-win for both herders and farmers.
He also urged Nigerians to stop killing stray animals, recommending instead that such animals be seized and released only after owners compensate farmers for any damage caused.
Musa dismissed claims that his call for ranching meant the government should forcibly take over people’s land, clarifying that ranching is a private business.
He suggested that interested individuals, state governments, or communities could set up model ranches to demonstrate the benefits.
“If you don’t want to call it ranching, call it something else,” he said, “but we must provide areas where animals can be kept without roaming into farms.”
The Defence Chief also identified other pressing security threats across Africa, including terrorism from Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS affiliates, rising banditry and kidnappings, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and growing cyberattacks on defence systems.
The upcoming summit, he noted, will bring African nations together to share ideas and craft joint strategies for tackling these challenges.