The Federal Government has unveiled plans to rehabilitate the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve in Gombe State, as part of ongoing efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector and restore grazing reserves across the country.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection visit to the reserve.
He said the project would revamp dilapidated infrastructure and reposition Wawa-Zange as a sustainable hub for livestock development.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation will focus on critical infrastructure such as road networks, a veterinary clinic, classrooms, solar-powered energy systems, primary healthcare facilities, and—most importantly, water supply for both human and animal use.
Describing the 144,000-hectare reserve as a strategic national asset, Maiha noted that Wawa-Zange is home to over 5,000 herders involved in both livestock rearing and crop farming.
“By every standard, these residents deserve the full amenities of a modern grazing reserve,” he said.
He added that the revitalised reserve would also support breed improvement centres, pasture cultivation, and other livestock services aimed at discouraging seasonal migration of herders.
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“Wawa-Zange should come back to life. We want this reserve to become a model of sustainability,” the Minister said.
On addressing farmer-herder tensions, Maiha said the government would adopt a collaborative rather than confrontational approach.
Instead of displacing farmers who have encroached on the reserve, he said both parties would be encouraged to share land resources. Under this arrangement, he said farmers would provide crop residue as feed for livestock, while herders supply manure to improve soil fertility.
“This mutually beneficial model aligns with our goal of promoting peaceful coexistence, reducing conflicts, and increasing productivity along both livestock and crop value chains,” he explained.
During his visit, the Minister also paid a courtesy call on Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to explore areas of partnership.
Also, Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Dr. Barnabas Malle, acknowledged the challenges facing herders, particularly inadequate shelter and water scarcity.
He assured that once basic amenities are restored, many herders are willing to settle permanently in the reserve.
The Wawa-Zange visit is part of the broader National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), through which the Federal Government plans to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves nationwide.
In May, the Minister launched the Wase Livestock Village in Plateau State, an integrated livestock settlement considered a flagship model under the national strategy.
The rehabilitation of Wawa-Zange is expected to boost food security, create jobs across the livestock value chain, reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to migratory herding, and contribute to the government’s economic diversification agenda.