Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he could not carry out his vow to end open grazing in the FCT.
Wike had upon assumption of office in August 2023, vowed that he would put an end to open grazing in Abuja.
He said then that herdsmen can rear their cattle outside the city but would no longer be allowed to graze on the grasses used for the beautification of the city.
“We will consult with the herdsmen to see how we will stop [open grazing] because we can not allow cows inside the city.
“They can be outside the city because the grasses are outside the city. The grass in the city was planted to beautify the city. It is not that one that they would eat.
“So, we will discuss. Let us say it, you are trying inside the [presidential] Villa for example, and you see about 20,000 to 40,000 goats, if foreigners see that, how would they feel?” He questioned.
However, two years later, herdsmen still graze their cattle openly in the FCT.
Addressing the issue during a media parley on Monday, Wike said he was threading cautiously over the issue.
"The country we are in is not an easy one, no rational person will be happy seeing cows on the roads.
"There are so much complications that you have to thread consciousness and be very careful in understanding the complexities of our nation now that we have so much crisis so we don't compound the issues.
"The truth is that nobody is happy about it, I don't want to do something..... governance is not like when you are running a private business, you have to thread cautiously and we are doing everything we can.
"For example, before I came there was a place where land was allocated for grazing reserves, about 1000 hectares, if I tell you the fight we are currently fighting.
"So many people have encroached, land grabbers have encroached, but it's a problem that will be sorted out, though we have to thread cautiously."