The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, convened a key stakeholders' meeting Friday with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to address the persistent issue of cattle roaming Abuja's streets, emphasizing collaborative solutions to promote peaceful coexistence and support for pastoralists.

As Chairman of MACBAN's Board of Trustees, the Sultan hosted the dialogue in Abuja, attended by Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha and other officials. The session focused on curbing urban cattle movement while tackling broader pastoralist challenges like grazing reserves and out-of-school children, predominantly from herder communities.

Presidential aide Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, Senior Special Assistant on Livestock Development, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to resolving herder issues. "We are working together with the Ministry of Livestock Development and other relevant agencies to address the root causes of the problems," Abiola-Ajimobi said. Initiatives include reviving grazing reserves, establishing ranches, and developing Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones with amenities like feeds, water, healthcare, veterinary clinics, and electricity to create safe zones for herders.

Dr. Balarabe Kakale, Special Assistant to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, highlighted education's role. The meeting resolved to partner on sustainable grazing solutions, including nomadic schools, with MACBAN leaders from the FCT's six area councils committing to relocate to equipped reserves. "They are ready to move to the grazing reserves of Abuja... with nomadic schools, veterinary and medical clinics, electricity, water, mini dams," Kakale noted, aligning with the administration's inclusive education agenda.

MACBAN National President Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma affirmed the group's dedication to ending city-center roaming, estimating 80% of Nigeria's 20 million out-of-school children are pastoralist offspring. "We want to make Abuja a model... Let’s know what is the process that is bringing them into the city and how can we stop it," he said. A committee will be formed to implement lasting measures, starting with FCT families involved.

The dialogue reflects ongoing efforts to mitigate farmer-herder conflicts, urban encroachments, and socioeconomic hurdles, with the Sultan urging unity.