COAS Advocates Adoption Of Ranching As Nat’l Policy

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the urgent adoption of ranching as a national policy, warning that open grazing is no longer sustainable in the face of worsening food insecurity.

Speaking at the National Summit on Food, Nutrition, and Food Security in Abuja, Lt. Gen
Oluyede urged the National Assembly to pass legislation banning open grazing and to provide ranching alternatives for herders.

Represented by Executive Director of Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited, Maj. Gen. Olufemi Dare, the Chief of Army Staff said the army has created formations specifically to curb farmer-herder clashes.

“The issue of food insecurity is give and take. Even if all security agencies are deployed to farms, they can’t cover every farmland,” he said. “We need to embrace ranching, use technology, and ensure all states and local governments are involved.”

There’s a need to embrace ranching, leverage technology, and ensure every state and local government gets involved. Security agencies should be empowered to focus on their constitutional duties.”

Also speaking, Rear Admiral, Yusuf Idris, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla. highlighted the Navy’s role through Admiralty Farms Limited, which operates in nearly all six geopolitical zones to support food and physical security

He explained that the farms provide both food security and physical security for farmers, while plans are underway to expand to other zones.

Representing the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General Besong Michaels Ogar stressed the need for timely information sharing to address security breaches affecting farms.

He urged the National Assembly to help streamline herder and farmer activities, noting the tension over encroached cattle routes in the Middle Belt, Northeast, and Northwest.

In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Dr. Emeka Ilouno, Eze Dunu of Ifitedunu, Anambra State, called on the government to educate grassroots farmers and support cooperatives, saying food security efforts must start from the local level.

Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring a safer and food-secure Nigeria, adding that peace and security are vital for both farmers and security agencies alike.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji