Federal Government has mapped out 33,000 hectares of land within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja for livestock settlements, as part of measures to end the growing presence of livestock within Abuja’s city centre.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar-Maiha, made this known while fielding questions from Journalists at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In recent months, residents of the Abuja have raised complaints about herds of cattle crossing busy roads, with road users having to navigate around animals, and traffic gridlocks, all leading to dangerous encounters and traffic congestion.
The Minister said the government is concerned and will soon relocate animals from urban zones, in order to address the menace.
Mukhtar-Maiha also outlined Federal Government’s strategy to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector through genetic improvement, modern husbandry practices, dedicated livestock settlements and livestock development centres across the country.
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According to him, the 33,000 hectares reserved for livestock settlement are located outside the Abuja metropolis, stressing that the policy was designed to separate livestock production from densely populated urban areas while providing animals with the environment required to improve productivity.
He identified low genetic potential, poor animal husbandry practices and the long distance traveling by animals in search of pasture and water as major factors responsible for low productivity, adding that the establishment of the animal settlement will provide a more productive, sustainable animal production system.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
