The ambitious plan to establish a N30 billion modern grazing reserve in Bobi community, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, has suffered setbacks due to persistent security challenges in the region.
The project, a collaboration between the federal government, the Niger State government, and private firms, was originally conceived to curb farmer-herder clashes and cattle rustling by bandits.
Initiated by the immediate past administration in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the project was meant to serve as a pilot scheme for livestock development.
However, investigations have revealed that, instead of livestock farming, the land has been primarily used for crop cultivation since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Investments in livestock and dairy production have largely been abandoned.
Findings indicate that the suspension of livestock farming at the reserve was driven by security threats in the Bobi axis of Mariga LGA. With frequent bandit attacks and concerns over cattle rustling, investors have been reluctant to proceed with the initial livestock plans.
Companies such as Frieslandcampina Wamco, Chi Limited, Hail Consortium, Neon Dairies Plc, and Iris Dairies, which had initially expressed strong interest in the project, have since withdrawn.
Despite the initial setback, community leaders and residents have insisted that the security situation has significantly improved. Sources revealed that Governor Mohammed Bago convened a stakeholders’ meeting in October 2023 to reassess the project.
After reviewing the situation, the state government opted to repurpose the land for crop farming instead of livestock development.
The Niger State Commissioner of Agriculture, Bawa Bosso, acknowledged that the previous administration, in collaboration with the CBN, had made substantial investments in the reserve.
He confirmed that 30,000 hectares of the land had been allocated for crop production by Niger Foods, with several cereal crops already cultivated. However, he admitted that little had been done to revive livestock farming.
Meanwhile, the head of Bobi community, Kabiru Mohammed, along with other residents, has called for a return to the initial livestock investment plan.
According to him, while security concerns may have justified the project’s suspension in 2023, the situation has since improved. He emphasized that involving local communities and providing adequate security would help revive the original vision for the reserve.
Residents expressed concern over the loss of key infrastructural developments that were part of the initial plan, such as schools, health centers, and dairy processing facilities.
Mohammed Bobi, another resident, lamented that these facilities, which could have empowered the local population, have all been halted. He urged the government to resume work on the project and follow through with its original objectives.
As of the time of filing this report, the status of the N30 billion investment promised by the CBN remains unclear, with no official statement on the matter.
However, Governor Bago has recently hosted livestock investors from Brazil, signaling potential renewed interest in the sector. His administration continues to advocate for both crop and livestock investments as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity in Niger State and across the country.
