“I didn’t say there will no cattle in Abuja”—Wike soft-pedal, promises to dialogue with fulani herdsmen

“I didn’t say there will no cattle in Abuja”—Wike soft-pedal, promises to dialogue with fulani herdsmen

 

In a surprising turn of events, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced his commitment to engage in a dialogue with Fulani herdsmen regarding the issue of open grazing within the Abuja city centre. This marks a significant shift in his approach to addressing this contentious matter.

 

Mr. Wike made this announcement during a press conference held after inspecting several road projects in Abuja on Saturday. He emphasized the importance of consultation before taking any firm decisions that could affect the lives and livelihoods of various communities.

 

“Before we take any decision, we will do proper consultation so that nobody will say you never alerted them, you never interacted with them before you took that decision,” stated Minister Wike. He further indicated his intention to invite representatives of the cattle herding community to discuss the issue.

 

“We are going to call the cattle people to sit with them. We cannot allow things to go on like this. We didn’t say that there will be no cattle in Abuja, but not within the city,” he asserted.

 

This announcement comes amidst growing concerns over the presence of cattle within the city centre and the need for sustainable solutions that accommodate both the urban development of Abuja and the traditional practices of Fulani herdsmen.

 

Mr. Wike clarified that while cows would not be allowed to graze within the city centre, there would be provisions for grazing in the suburbs.

 

In addition to addressing the open grazing issue, Minister Wike also commented on the ban of commercial motorcycles from operating within the city centre. He explained that a final decision on this matter would be made after the federal government provides alternative transportation options, such as buses, for the affected motorcycle operators.

 

“We did not take a firm decision because we have not been able to provide the buses that will be the alternative for the people. It is within the government’s responsibility to provide the alternative and then ask the motorcycle operators to leave the city centre,” he said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that people do not suffer due to abrupt policy changes.

 

During his visit to inspect various infrastructure projects, including road developments and rehabilitation projects, the minister highlighted the government’s commitment to improving the city’s infrastructure and transportation networks.

 

Overall, Minister Nyesom Wike’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Fulani herdsmen reflects a significant shift in his approach to resolving the open grazing issue in Abuja. This move toward consultation and negotiation could pave the way for a more sustainable and harmonious coexistence between urban development and traditional practices in the nation’s capital.