Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the presence of cattle grazing along roadsides and within newly developed areas of the Federal Capital Territory as a national security issue that requires urgent and realistic solutions.
Speaking during a live media chat on Monday, Wike said the challenge of open grazing should be addressed through honest discussions rather than being viewed through ethnic or religious lenses.
“You talked about cows. That is an issue of national security. We must face reality,” he said.
“When you see people try to take action on certain things, some people come out with one kind of religion or ethnicity. Let the truth be told,” he added.
The minister disclosed that one of the key measures being promoted by the Federal Government is ranching, which he said would help remove livestock from urban centres and improve environmental management.
“The President has said, ‘Look, let’s do ranching and see how we can take these cows out of the city.’ It is an eyesore. It is not fair, it is not good.
“We have developed countries where they have cows; you hardly can see them. Go to Saudi, you can’t see the cows there,” Wike said.
He praised the Minister of Livestock Development for ongoing consultations with stakeholders, including the Miyetti Allah, aimed at addressing the issue of open grazing.
Despite these efforts, Wike acknowledged that cattle are still visible in parts of Abuja and accepted responsibility for the continued challenge.
“I apologise for that and take responsibility for that; up till now there are cows. But you should also face the reality.
“It is not easy as you are saying it here. You know the problem in this country, and you must come out to say this is the problem, we must tackle this problem, and we must give you support,” he stated.
Refuse Disposal Concerns
Addressing complaints about refuse accumulation in areas such as Jabi, Garki and other parts of Abuja, Wike admitted that waste collection may occasionally be affected during public holidays but dismissed suggestions that the city was being overwhelmed by refuse.
Defence of Action Against Roadside Trading
The FCT minister also defended the administration’s campaign against roadside trading, insisting that adequate market facilities have been provided for traders across the capital.
According to him, trading at road junctions and unauthorised locations creates disorder and undermines the image of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital city.
“When the government says, look, this is not where it is provided for you to trade and try to chase them away, the next thing you see is a programme in media houses on how the government has not provided an alternative place for them, which is not correct. There are markets. Go to the market and sell your product,” he said.
Wike maintained that traders must operate within designated market areas rather than occupying public spaces and major intersections.
“You can’t be here. There’s no market here. Why do you have to come to the junction to stay and sell your goods? That one also constitutes a nuisance,” he stated.
He called for greater public cooperation in enforcing regulations designed to preserve the capital city’s infrastructure and aesthetics.
“This is the only one city we have in Nigeria. We cannot allow it to be destroyed simply because someone is saying, ‘I want to go and see where I can find my stomach.’ That does not mean you should not do what the law provides,” he added.