The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the removal of roaming cattle from roads and public spaces in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not within its primary operational mandate.
The declaration comes as a response to increasing complaints from residents and motorists regarding livestock obstructing major highways and public thoroughfares in the capital city.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that while it maintains law and order, the specific task of managing nomadic cattle and clearing livestock from urban roads falls under the jurisdiction of administrative and agricultural agencies.
The police emphasized that their role is centered on crime prevention and the maintenance of public security, rather than the regulation of livestock movement or the enforcement of grazing laws.
This clarification highlights a perceived gap in the enforcement of urban planning and livestock regulations within the FCT, where roaming cattle have frequently caused traffic congestion and road safety hazards.
Motorists in Abuja have reported numerous instances where herds of cattle have obstructed traffic on key arteries, including the Airport Road and various expressways leading into the city centre.
These obstructions not only delay the movement of people and goods but also increase the risk of road traffic accidents, creating an unpredictable environment for commercial transport and private commuters.
The presence of livestock on high-speed urban roads poses a significant threat to infrastructure and public safety, often leading to costly vehicular damage and potential loss of life.
Institutional Gaps in Abuja’s Livestock Management
The responsibility for the control and removal of cattle in the capital resides primarily with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its Department of Agriculture.
The FCTA is tasked with managing urban zoning and implementing agricultural policies that dictate where livestock can be kept and moved within the city’s boundaries.
Previous directives from the FCTA have sought to ban cattle grazing in the heart of the city to protect public gardens, road medians, and other urban infrastructure from degradation.
However, the persistence of roaming cattle suggests a lack of consistent enforcement or a shortage of personnel and equipment available to the agricultural department to carry out removals.
The situation is further complicated by the tension between urban development and the traditional nomadic grazing patterns of pastoralists, which often clash with the layout of the capital’s planned infrastructure.
Industry observers note that the failure to effectively clear cattle from major roads increases the cost of doing business in the capital by prolonging delivery times for logistics companies and increasing insurance risks for transport operators.
This issue mirrors broader challenges across Nigeria, where the government has attempted to transition from open grazing to ranching under the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The plan aims to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders while modernising the livestock industry, but implementation at the municipal level remains fragmented.
In Abuja, the lack of a coordinated task force involving both the FCTA and security agencies has left a vacuum in enforcement, allowing livestock to occupy spaces reserved for vehicular traffic.
Critics argue that while the police may not be the primary agency for cattle removal, the resulting traffic chaos and safety risks fall under the broader umbrella of public order.
The ongoing failure to address the roaming cattle menace threatens to undermine the aesthetic and functional standards of the federal capital.
The FCTA is now expected to intensify its efforts to evacuate livestock from prohibited areas to ensure the free flow of traffic and the safety of road users.
Further action may include the establishment of designated grazing reserves outside the city centre and the deployment of more aggressive enforcement teams to clear highways.
The resolution of this administrative impasse remains critical for the maintenance of Abuja’s urban infrastructure and the safety of its residents, as detailed in the original report on the police disclaimer.
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