Emeka Obegolu, president of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has called for the establishment of structured grazing reserves to curb farmer-herder conflicts across the country.
Mr Obegolu made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, saying that ranching reforms would enhance security and rural development.
He identified open grazing as a major driver of rural insecurity, adding that the practice had triggered communal clashes and farmland destruction, as well as displaced rural populations and farmers.
According to him, proper management of ranches will boost meat and dairy productivity, create thousands of jobs across the livestock value chain, reduce pressure on farmland, and eliminate a major source of rural conflict.
He called on the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to support livestock development, adding that their participation would transform the livestock sector.
Mr Obegolu added that private investment would enhance financing, innovation, and efficiency, and that such efforts were critical to modernising livestock production.
“Stakeholder engagement is vital for successful implementation. I am urging for a strong political will to end open grazing,” he said.
The president said the chamber remained the authoritative voice of the business community in the FCT, adding that one of the chamber’s targets in 2026 was to ensure that small businesses, especially those in vulnerable sectors, were protected.
“Our mandate is to promote growth, safeguard enterprise interests, and ensure that government policies translate into meaningful and measurable economic progress.
“Throughout 2025, ACCI has sustained strong engagement with public and private sector stakeholders through advocacy interventions and structured dialogues,” he said.
Mr Obegolu said that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.
He said the chamber intensified interventions to address issues through capacity-building programmes for entrepreneurs and reactivation of the ACCI MSME Desk and business clinics.
He called on the government to adopt pro-growth policies that support enterprise, encourage investment, and stimulate productivity.
“Introducing targeted subsidies to make conversion more affordable will enable widespread adoption, especially among public transport operators, taxis, buses, and ride-hailing fleets.
“This will ensure that the benefits of cleaner and cheaper energy alternatives reach the commuting public,” he said.
He reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to championing business interests and fostering an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive.
(NAN)