The federal government has announced plans to rehabilitate the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve in Gombe State as part of its broader initiative to revitalise Nigeria’s livestock sector and transform grazing reserves into sustainable development hubs.
The minister of livestock development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection tour of the reserve. During the tour, he outlined the government’s vision to upgrade critical infrastructure, enhance productivity, and foster peaceful cohabitation between herders and farmers.
Maiha said the rehabilitation would include construction and repair of internal road networks, primary health care centres, a veterinary clinic, classrooms, solar-powered systems, and, crucially, the provision of potable water for both residents and livestock.
“Wawa-Zange should come back to life. We want this reserve to become a model of sustainability,” he stated.
Spread across 144,000 hectares, the reserve currently hosts more than 5,000 herders who rely on crop and livestock farming for their livelihood.
According to the minister, the facility will also be repurposed to include breed improvement centres and pasture cultivation areas to reduce seasonal migration, which is often linked to communal clashes and environmental degradation.
In addressing farmer-herder relations, Maiha advocated a collaborative approach over confrontation.
He explained that the government will support a land-sharing model where farmers and herders can exchange crop residue and livestock manure, fostering mutual benefit and reducing tension.
“This aligns with our goal to improve productivity and promote peaceful coexistence across the livestock and crop value chains,” he added.
During his visit, the minister also paid a private courtesy call on the governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, to discuss areas of cooperation.
Gombe State commissioner for agriculture and animal husbandry, Dr Barnabas Malle, who received the minister, acknowledged the challenges confronting herders, including inadequate shelter and limited water supply.
He said the herding community is eager to settle permanently once basic infrastructure is provided.
The Wawa-Zange visit is part of the federal government’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which aims to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves nationwide. It follows similar efforts, including the May 2025 launch of the Wase Livestock Village in Plateau State.
Officials say the ongoing transformation of grazing reserves will not only boost food security and generate employment but also help mitigate climate impacts from migratory herding and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification.
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