‘Cows Roaming Abuja Streets, A National Security Issue’, Wike Laments

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lamented the presence of cows roaming the streets of Abuja, describing the menace as a national security issue.

The Minister insisted that livestock should not be allowed to move freely in the nation’s capital city.

Wike stated this on Monday during his monthly media chat in Abuja while responding to concerns raised by journalists over the increasing presence of cattle in parts of the city, despite ongoing efforts to improve the capital’s infrastructure and aesthetics.

Asked about cows grazing on lawns and roaming across roads in the FCT, the minister said: “It is an issue of national security.”

When pressed further on how the issue relates to national security, Wike replied: “No, no, no. We must face reality.”

According to him, the Federal Government’s policy direction on ranching remains the best approach to addressing the problem.

“One of the things we have done when we came in, but look, the President said, now let’s do ranching and see how we can take these cows, animals out of the city,” he said.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, Wike added: “It is an eyesore. It is not fair. It is not good.”

The minister noted that in many developed countries, livestock were not allowed to roam freely within urban centres.

“We have developed countries where they have cows. You have to go and see them. Go to Saudi Arabia. Go to all the cities. You cannot see the cows there. You cannot see them,” he said.

Wike lamented that government’s efforts to implement policies aimed at addressing the problem were often misunderstood or politicised.

“When you begin to develop some policies, people find it weird. ‘Oh, they are pushing cows because of this.’ No, no, no. It is an issue of national security,” he said.

The minister also addressed concerns over street trading, begging and other forms of nuisance within the city centre.

According to him, the FCT Administration (FCTA) has continued efforts to remove illegal traders from roadsides and unauthorised locations but required greater public support to sustain the exercise.

“You see again, when you see traders, this is where it is provided for you to trade, not to adjust anywhere. The next thing you see is a market. There is no market here. That also constitutes nuisance,” he said.

Wike added that the administration’s actions were intended to protect the integrity of the nation’s capital.

“We have been trying to, we have been doing that. But again, we need the media support to be able to educate the public that what we are doing is for the interest and for the generality of the people.

“This is the only one city we have in Nigeria. We cannot allow it to be destroyed simply because they are saying, ‘Oh, I want to go and see where I can find my daily bread.’ That does not mean you shouldn’t do what the law provides,” he stated.