Wike meets Belgian ambassador, says discussions ongoing to end open grazing in Abuja

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says efforts are being made to stop the indiscriminate grazing of cattle on the streets of Abuja.

Wike spoke on Wednesday when Daniel Bertrand, the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, paid him a visit in office.

The minister was responding to concerns raised by the ambassador over the roaming of cattle on the streets of Abuja.

Wike said he had initiated multifaceted discussions with critical stakeholders on the need to end roaming of cattle in the nation’s capital.

He also said the FCT administration is already adopting different approaches to defeat criminalities in the city.

He said his administration has also intensified partnership drives with players from the private sector to beef up security in the FCT.

Bertrand expressed satisfaction about the minister’s resolve to fight the menace of cattle roaming.

The ambassador also expressed interest in getting investors from his country to partner the FCT administration in the development of the nation’s capital.

After he was sworn in in August 2023, Wike  said open cattle grazing in the capital city would no longer be allowed.

“We will consult with the herdsmen to see how we will stop [open grazing] because we can not allow cows inside the city,” he had said.

“They can be outside the city because the grasses are outside the city. The grasses in the city were planted to beautify the city. It is not that one that they would eat.

“So, we will discuss. It is important. Let us say it, you are driving inside the [Presidential] Villa for example, and you see about 20,000 to 40,000 goats, if foreigners see that, how would they feel?”