The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called for urgent measures to regulate the movement of livestock across Nigeria as part of efforts to end recurring clashes between farmers and herders.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit scheduled for August 25–27, 2025, Musa stressed that preventing animals from straying into farmlands would significantly reduce tensions in rural communities.
He advised that stray livestock should not be killed but apprehended, with compensation collected from their owners. “This approach will foster peace and understanding between both parties,” he noted.
The Defence Chief also championed a nationwide shift from open grazing to ranching, describing it as a “win-win” solution. According to him, animals in ranches expend less energy, remain healthier, and yield better products such as milk.
Addressing concerns over land ownership, Musa clarified that his advocacy for ranching was not a call for government to seize land. Instead, he encouraged individuals, private investors, and state governments to establish ranches. He also suggested the creation of model ranches to serve as practical guides.
The upcoming African Defence Summit, he said, will focus on strengthening continental security cooperation, with agricultural security forming part of the wider peace agenda.