Nigerian herders let cattle graze on the streets of the capital as their pastures are occupied

On August 26, according to the Associated Press, an unusual sight appeared in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria - herders grazing cattle on the streets. Climate change and the urbanization process have caused Nigerian herders to lose their original pastures, and the cattle herds have even blocked the passages in Abuja.

Nigeria has more than 20 million dairy cows, and the total output value of the dairy market is about 1.5 billion US dollars. The traditional nomadic Fulani people dominate the country's cattle raising industry. In the past, they grazed on free pastures in the wilderness, but now the pressure of modernization and the demand for land for housing and crop cultivation seriously challenge their way of life. Herder Abubakar settled in Idu, a rural area of Abuja, for grazing many years ago. Now he can only find a place to graze cattle on the city streets because the settlement has been demolished and the bushes for grazing have also been cut down for building houses.

Some people suggest that herders buy private land for grazing and expand their business scale, but experts point out that this requires funds and government support. The president of the Nigerian Cattle Breeders Association said that part of the problem is that the government has not taken necessary measures to realize the potential of the livestock industry. To solve related problems, the Nigerian president announced the establishment of a new department in July and promised that this department will help restore the original pasture protection areas to alleviate the current predicament and promote the sustainable development of the livestock industry.