A senatorial candidate in Nigeria has promised to introduce legislation banning stray cattle from the streets of the nation’s capital, Abuja, if elected next year.
Dr Juliet Muoneme, representing the opposition Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the persistent presence of livestock on major highways poses severe safety risks to residents. Her proposal aims to establish structured, designated ranches to keep animals off busy urban roads while modernising the local livestock industry.
The roaming of cattle has remained a persistent problem in Abuja for years, despite repeated attempts by authorities to restrict open grazing. In June 2026, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike publicly apologised to residents over the failure to clear the animals from the city’s transport arteries.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Dr. Muoneme argued that her proposed bill would address both public safety and agricultural management.”Not just stopping them from moving, but how do we take care of them too,” she said, adding that the capital territory has ample land to support organized ranching. Under her plan, cattle owners would transition from open grazing to facilities designed to bolster the production of meat, dairy, and hides.”There will be two bills in one,” Dr. Muoneme explained, emphasizing that the legislative framework would regulate animal movement without criminalising livestock owners.
The initiative forms part of her wider campaign platform, dubbed the “FCT RISE Agenda,” ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 legislative elections. Beyond urban planning and agricultural reform, her platform addresses affordable housing shortages, youth unemployment, and vocational training across Abuja’s six area councils.
Abuja was developed as a planned city in the late 20th century to replace Lagos as Nigeria’s federal capital, but rapid urban expansion has frequently brought modern infrastructure into conflict with traditional pastoral practices. Dr. Muoneme, who holds a background in education and human capacity development, insisted that effective governance could resolve the friction. “Politics is not dirty. Politics is about leadership. Politics is service,” she said.
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