The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has raised concern over the presence of cattle grazing along roadsides and newly developed districts in Abuja, describing the situation as a matter of national security requiring urgent attention.
Speaking during a live media chat on Monday, Wike said the issue goes beyond environmental discomfort and must be treated as a serious security challenge affecting the capital city.
“You talked about cows. That is an issue of national security. We must face reality,” he said.
The minister argued that reactions to enforcement efforts are often politicised along religious and ethnic lines, which he said distorts efforts to address the problem.
“When you see people try to take action on certain things, some people come out with one kind of religion or ethnicity. Let the truth be told,” he added.
Wike also disclosed that the government is pushing ranching as a long-term solution to remove livestock from urban areas. He said the initiative aligns with federal efforts to modernise livestock management.
“The President has said, ‘Look, let’s do ranching and see how we can take these cows out of the city.’ It is an eyesore. It is not fair, it is not good,” he said.
According to him, in more organised societies, livestock is not seen roaming public spaces, arguing that Nigeria should adopt similar standards.
“We have developed countries where they have cows; you hardly can see them.
”Go to Saudi, you can’t see the cows there,” the minister added.
He further commended the Minister of Livestock Development for engaging stakeholders such as Miyetti Allah in ongoing consultations aimed at resolving the open grazing challenge.
However, he admitted that the problem has not yet been fully resolved.
“I apologise for that and take responsibility for that; up till now there are cows. But you should also face the reality,” Wike said.
He noted that tackling the issue requires collective understanding and sustained political will.
“It is not easy as you are saying it here. You know the problem in this country, and you must come out to say this is the problem, we must tackle this problem, and we must give you support,” he added.
On sanitation concerns in parts of Abuja, including areas such as Jabi and Garki, the minister acknowledged occasional waste accumulation, especially during public holidays, but dismissed claims that refuse has overwhelmed the city.
Wike also defended the ongoing clampdown on roadside trading in Abuja, insisting that traders have designated markets provided by the government.
He said enforcement actions are often misunderstood and wrongly portrayed as lacking alternatives for affected traders.
“When the government says, look, this is not where it is provided for you to trade and try to chase them away, the next thing you see is a programme in media houses on how the government has not provided an alternative place for them, which is not correct.
”There are markets. Go to the market and sell your product,” he said.
According to him, street trading at junctions and other restricted areas creates disorder and undermines the city’s planning and aesthetics.
“You can’t be here. There’s no market here. Why do you have to come to the junction to stay and sell your goods? That one also constitutes a nuisance,” Wike stated.
He stressed that Abuja, as the nation’s capital, must be properly maintained and protected from activities that degrade its structure and appearance.
“This is the only one city we have in Nigeria. We cannot allow it to be destroyed simply because someone is saying, ‘I want to go and see where I can find my stomach.’ That does not mean you should not do what the law provides,” he added.
Wike called for stronger public cooperation in ensuring compliance with city regulations and maintaining order across the Federal Capital Territory.
