FG Begins Work on Wawa-Zange for Livestock Push

The Federal Government has announced plans to rehabilitate the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve in Gombe State as part of broader efforts to revamp Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the reserve, highlighting the government’s commitment to transforming grazing reserves into modern, sustainable livestock hubs.

The rehabilitation will focus on key infrastructure, including roads, healthcare and veterinary facilities, classrooms, solar power, and water supply for both humans and animals.

Spanning 144,000 hectares and currently accommodating over 5,000 herders, Wawa-Zange is seen as a strategic asset deserving of full development to meet modern standards for grazing reserves.

Plans also include the establishment of breed improvement centres and pasture cultivation initiatives aimed at reducing seasonal herder migration. The Minister emphasized the importance of turning the reserve into a model of sustainability that supports both productivity and environmental responsibility.

In addressing the farmer-herder dynamic, the Minister proposed a collaborative, non-confrontational approach. Rather than evicting farmers encroaching on the land, he assured that the government will implement shared land-use practices, fostering mutual benefits such as crop residue feeding for livestock and manure fertilization for crops—thus promoting peaceful coexistence and increased agricultural productivity.

The Gombe State Government expressed full support for the initiative, with the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Barnabas Malle, highlighting the urgent need for improved amenities.

The Wawa-Zange project is part of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), under which 417 grazing reserves nationwide will be rehabilitated, with the aim of enhancing food security, creating jobs, and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification.