Nigeria Is Not a Ranch: A Constitutional Indictment of the CDS’s Misguided Proposal
By Charles Ude, Esq.
Abuja-based legal practitioner and public opinion analyst
Email: charlesude2014@gmail.com | Tel: +2347033424247
A Misguided March into Agricultural Policy
The recent pronouncement by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, advocating for the wholesale establishment of ranches across Nigeria as a remedy for the herder-farmer conflicts, is an alarming case of constitutional overreach. Cloaked in the language of national security, this initiative is little more than a rebranded resurrection of the discredited RUGA policy. It is, in essence, an attempt to dress a cadaver in robes and call it a king.
RUGA and NALDA: Ghosts of Policy Past
The RUGA policy, an invention of the Buhari-era, was soundly rejected by Nigerians across ethnic and political divides. It attempted to transplant nomadic herders into sedentary communities without their consent, thereby sowing distrust and division. Despite the billions spent, the policy collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions.
Similarly, the National Livestock Development Agency (NALDA) promised much but delivered little. What was marketed as a silver bullet turned out to be a Pandora’s box of bureaucratic failure, opacity, and inefficiency. These initiatives were like pouring water into a basket,no matter how much is invested, nothing is retained.
Why the CDS’s Proposal Is Fundamentally Flawed
General Musa’s call for nationwide ranching presumes that uniformity equals unity. It is a one-size-fits-all prescription that ignores the complex federal structure, cultural diversity, and regional autonomy that define Nigeria. Forcing states to accept ranches is akin to planting foreign seeds in hostile soil, it is bound to fail.
To impose such a policy by fiat is not governance but policy imperialism. It represents an authoritarian encroachment on constitutional federalism. As legal expert Barr. Aloy Ejimakor rightly observed, the proposal is “repugnant, unconscionable, and unconstitutional.”
The Capital in Crisis: Abuja Held Hostage by Herds
Nowhere is the failure of current livestock policy more evident than in the Federal Capital Territory. Cattle roam unrestrained through highways, green belts, and even diplomatic zones, turning Abuja into a grotesque parody of modern governance. What should be a symbol of national order has become a grazing ground, governed not by law but by mooing decree.
This chaos undermines urban planning, threatens food security, and flaunts the rule of law. The sight of cattle disrupting traffic on the Abuja-Keffi expressway or wandering around Aso Drive is more than an eyesore,it is a national embarrassment.
What the World Is Doing Right: Lessons from the Global Ranching Giants
🌍 Top Cattle Breeding Nations:
- Brazil – World’s largest commercial cattle herd (~200 million).
- India – Large numbers, mostly non-commercial due to religious practices.
- United States – Leader in beef genetics and industrial-scale ranching.
- China – Rapidly expanding feedlot-based ranching.
- Australia – High-quality, export-oriented beef sector.
🐂 Breeding Policies in Leading Countries
Brazil (JBS S.A., Minerva Foods):
Breeds: Primarily Zebu (Nelore).
Strategies: Extensive grazing, feedlot finishing, and genetic selection.
Focus: Productivity, sustainability, traceability.
Land Policy: Fully private-sector driven. No state-imposed ranches.
United States:
Breeds: Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Charolais.
Techniques: AI, embryo transfer, strict traceability.
Policy: Free market, BIF standards, voluntary ranching.
Australia:
Breeds: Angus, Brahman, Wagyu.
Approach: Export-driven, environmentally sustainable, no compulsory settlement.
All these countries follow a model that is:
Voluntary and market-led.
Based on scientific breeding and economic logic.
Respectful of regional autonomy and private land rights.
📊 Comparison Table: Global Models vs. Nigeria’s Proposal
Aspect Nigeria (CDS Proposal) Brazil / USA / Australia
Policy Nature Military-backed, top-down Market-led, voluntary
Land Use Imposed allocation Private ownership/leases
Community Consent Mostly absent Mandatory
Breeding Strategy Undefined Scientific, performance-based
Advanced Techniques Largely absent AI, embryo transfer, BIF standards
Urban Regulation Cattle roam freely Strictly enforced zoning laws
Economic Logic Absent ROI model Profit-driven investment
Military Role Policy shaper None
Environmental Concerns Ignored Central to strategy
Soldiers Should Guard Borders, Not Herd Policies
Generals are trained to defend nations, not design agrarian frameworks. When military leaders begin to shape livestock policy, democratic institutions become casualties. Let our soldiers focus on protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity, combating insurgency, and restoring trust in our armed forces, not herding cows by command.
Toward a Humane and Federalist Solution
Instead of martial policy proclamations, we need:
Dialogue over Dictation
Local Consent and Customization
Economic Empowerment for Herders and Farmers
Strict Urban Cattle Regulation
Conclusion: A Nation Must Not Be Led by the Horns
The push to foist ranching policies on Nigerian states through military advocacy is not just constitutionally flawed, it is morally and economically indefensible. Nigeria is not a ranch; it is a federation. The herder-farmer crisis cannot be resolved by trampling over the Constitution but by walking in its light.
We must learn from nations that have successfully modernized livestock policy. Their models are built on consent, science, and economic logic, not force. Let us not allow the mistakes of the past to gallop into our future.
Charles Ude, Esq. is an Abuja-based legal practitioner and public opinion analyst.
Email: charlesude2014@gmail.com | Tel: +2347033424247
