The 17 Governors in the region had set the deadline during their July 5 meeting in Lagos State, which was a follow up to the announcement of a total ban on open-grazing during an earlier meeting on May 12 in Asaba, Delta State capital.
The Federal Government has dismissed media reports claiming that open grazing has been banned across the country.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Livestock Development signed by Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, Head of Press & Public Relations, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the minister said on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, that the government has not announced any such policy.
Instead, he explained, the administration is implementing a phased and carefully structured transition from open grazing to modern ranching systems.
Maiha stated that Nigeria has 273 gazetted grazing reserves covering more than 4.5 million hectares, and the Federal Government is working with states to revitalise and equip these reserves to make them functional for pastoralists and other livestock operators.
He emphasised that the transition plan does not eliminate open grazing immediately but provides sustainable alternatives aimed at enhancing productivity, reducing conflicts, and building a modern livestock ecosystem.
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“Pastoralists, like every other economic group, require a structured business environment. The grazing reserves provided by law are meant to serve as business premises for all livestock activities. Our responsibility is to upgrade these reserves and facilitate their proper utilisation,” he said.
The Ministry urged Nigerians to disregard misleading reports and rely on official government channels for accurate information on livestock development policies.
