By Sylvester Udemezue
I have proposed the creation of two additional states in Northern Nigeria (one in the North-West and another in the North-East) for the mandatory resettlement of all herdsmen operating within the country.
This proposal does not seek to exclude any other Nigerians; on the contrary, citizens from all parts of the federation would remain constitutionally free to live, work, and conduct business in those states, in accordance with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of movement and residence. And to ensure geopolitical balance and equity, I further suggested that two or three additional states be created simultaneously in Southern Nigeria. This balanced approach ensures that no region is disadvantaged and that national restructuring aligns with fairness, demographic realities, and long-term peacebuilding.
For deeper insight into the rationale and conceptual foundations of this proposal, see my detailed publications:
1. “An Open Letter of National Emergency: A Call for the Creation of Special States for Fulani Herdsmen”, BarristerNG, 2 June 2025.
2. “Part 2: Proposing Peace, Not Privilege—A Coordinated Reply to Critics of the Proposed Special States for Fulani Pastoralists in Nigeria”, The Loyal Nigerian Lawyer, 11 August 2025.
3. “Part 3: Why Nigeria Needs to Create Special States for Fulani Herdsmen—Doing Things Differently to Achieve Different, Better Results”, BarristerNG, 9 June 2025.
4. “Reframing Nigeria’s Violent Security Crisis: Strategic Policy Pathways for De-Escalating Ethnic Tensions and Achieving Sustainable National Peace”, DNL Legal & Style, 24 November 2025.
5. “Ban Without Homes: Why Nigeria’s Open-Grazing Prohibition Demands a Parallel Resettlement Strategy”, The Reality Ministry, 26 November 2025.
However, if we would not immediately create the two new northern states at this time, a practical alternative exists: the federal government may designate strategic pastoral resettlement zones across parts of the North-West and North-East. These purpose-built resettlement areas (equipped with water infrastructure, ranching facilities, security posts, and access roads) can accommodate all herdsmen nationwide. Once such resettlement zones are fully developed and operational, Nigeria can proceed to implement a permanent, uncompromising ban on open grazing. This dual-track approach (resettlement first, prohibition next) offers the most realistic pathway to ending the long-standing herder–farmer conflict in Nigeria. Properly executed, it would either eliminate the crisis entirely or reduce it to the barest, most manageable minimum.
1. *CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF RESETTLEMENT AREAS:* The following zones/areas are identified based on ecological suitability, historical grazing activities, access to water sources, land availability, and low potential for social conflict. These areas are broad geographic zones suitable for ranching-based pastoral settlements, avoiding politically sensitive community-level specifics.
2. *CRITERIA USED TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE AREAS:* (i). Historical presence of pastoral communities; (ii). Availability of grassland and forage potential; (iii). Access to water bodies (rivers, dams, irrigation schemes); (iv). Low population density relative to southern Nigeria; (v). Potential to support fenced ranches or pastoral settlements; (vi). Existing cattle markets and infrastructure; (vii). Willingness of states to accept ranching investments.
3. *SUITABLE AREAS FOR PASTORAL RESETTLEMENT IN NORTWEST AND NORTHEAST OF NIGERIA*
(1). *NORTH-WEST OF NIGERIA*
1. *Sokoto–Kebbi–Zamfara Cattle Corridor:* Has a wide Sudan savanna vegetation; is an existing but underutilized federal grazing reserves; is close to Niger Republic pastoral belt; there is easy access to River Rima and River Sokoto; is ideal for cluster ranches, fenced grazing reserves, fodder farms, livestock settlements
2. *Katsina Central & Southern Grazing Zones:* Large open drylands; has pre-existing cattle routes; easy water supply from Jibia Dam, Sabke Dam, Zobe Dam; historic concentration of pastoral families; ideal for irrigated fodder production, dairy hubs, settled Fulani communities
3. *Kano–Jigawa Pastoral Belt:* Flat plains; easy access to Hadejia–Jama’are Basin irrigation infrastructure; strong local livestock markets (Kano hub); underutilized rural land; and ideal for: commercial ranches, feedlots, dairy-processing value chains
4. *Zamfara–Kebbi Forest–Savanna Mosaic:* Large safe belts away from conflict zones; enclosed ranching communities; rehabilitated grazing reserves with small earth dam water points; ideal for: medium-scale ranch clusters, pasture development
(2). *NORTH-EAST NIGERIA:*
1. *Borno Central & Southern Pastoral Belt:* Biu Plateau, Hawul–Kwaya Kusar belt, parts of Gwoza & Chibok. Good soil for fodder; Water supply via Alau Dam and other water bodies; Ideal for structured pastoral communities, fodder irrigation, dairy processing hubs
2. *Adamawa Cattle Corridor:* Mubi–Ganye–Numan grassland belt; Long-established Fulani pastoral settlements; Access to River Benue; High forage availability; Ideal for mega ranches, nomadic-to-settled transition, livestock training institutes
3. *Taraba–Benue Valley Grazing Axis:* Serti–Gembu belt, Bali–Gashaka plains, Karim Lamido grasslands; Rich pasture and ample water supply; Longstanding mixed farming & cattle rearing tradition; Ideal for integrated crop–livestock systems, mountain ranches, dairy farms
4. *Yobe Northern & Central Pastoral Plain:* Semi-arid savanna grasslands; Komadugu–Yobe River system; Existing grazing reserves (Gurjaje, Dagona); Ideal for irrigated fodder production, dry-season grazing hubs, semi-sedentary pastoral communities
5. *Gombe Savanna Grasslands:* Tangale–Waja highlands, Yamaltu–Deba plains; Underutilized grazing reserves; Ideal for: small-to-medium ranches, mixed crop-livestock schemes, pastoral training centres
(3). *RECOMMENDED GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO RESETTLEMENT*
1. *STEP 1:* Designate Pastoral Development Zones (PDZs) in each of the chosen states
2. *STEP 2:* Construct infrastructure: ranches, veterinary centres, water points, security posts.
3. *STEP THREE:* Provide incentives: seed money, training, veterinary support.
4. *STEP 4:* Implement a phased approach:
*✅Phase 1:* Build settlements;
*✅Phase 2:* Voluntary migration;
*✅Phase 3:* Full enforcement of the open-grazing ban
5. *STEP 5:* Constructively engage local communities to ensure no ethnic group feels targeted or excluded.
Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (Udems)
Legal Practitioner, Law Teacher, Public-Interest Advocate, Proctor The Reality Ministry of Truth Law and Justice (TRM).
08021365545.
udems@therealityministry.ngo.
www.therealityministry.ngo.
(26 November 2025).
REFERENCES:
1. Babalobi OO and Esuruoso OO, ‘Grazing reserves and development of traditional pastoralism in Nigeria: progress and prospects’ (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan 1999)
2. Ogunbiyi ID and Muhammad IB, ‘Enhancing Sustainability of Pastoralism through Grazing Reserves in Nigeria’s Livestock Industry’ (2023) 2 Journal of Applied Ecology and Environmental Design 1
3. Suleiman M, ‘Fulani cattle productivity and management in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, Nigeria’ (2016) Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice
4. “Identifying motivators for state–pastoralist dialogue: exploring the relationships between livestock services, self-organisation and conflict in Nigeria’s pastoralist Fulani’ (2014) Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice
5. Premium Times, ‘Federal Gazette Provides for Grazing Reserves: Fact or Fiction?’ ThisDay (31 August 2021)
6. Vincent A. Yusuf, ‘Cattle starve as 417 grazing reserves lie idle’ Daily Trust (20 September 2025)
7. ‘Buhari courts trouble in renewed push for grazing routes’ BusinessDay NG (21 August 2021)
8. ‘Pastoralist-Farmers Conflicts and The Search for Peaceful Resolution’ Daily Trust (08 January 2018)
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