The newly sworn-in minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed that his tenure would tolerate open grazing in Abuja.
Wike made this disclosure while speaking in Abuja on Monday, August 21, 2023, upon his assumption of office as the new FCT Minister.
He made it known that the herdsmen can rear their cattle outside the city, noting that they would no longer be allowed to graze on the grasses meant for the beautification of the Federal Capital City.
However, he expressed his readiness, to consult with the leadership of the cattle rearers, to find see how they can graze, outside the city.
“We will consult with the herdsmen to see how we will stop [open grazing] because we can not allow cows inside the city.
“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 the one that they would eat.
“So, we will discuss. Let us say it, you are trying inside the [presidential] Villa for example, and you see about 20,000 to 40,000 goats, if foreigners see that, how would they feel?”
Speaking on the illegal markets in the FCT, the formers Rivers state governor said, “We are not going to tolerate the issue of everywhere is market. Yes, I know that things are difficult, but that doesn’t mean you should cause crises for other people.
“You are looking for what to put in your stomach, it must be done within the framework of the law.
“In a city, people are selling umbrellas under the trees. These things caused insecurity. We can not allow it,” he said.
