The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has warned that Nigeria’s persistent failure to implement livestock policies is now a major driver of insecurity, placing the sector “at the heart of the country’s conflict ecosystem.”
Speaking during a Policy Review Meeting of the Network of Policy Makers for the Support of Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Nigeria, held in partnership with KAICIID, IPCR’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, said Nigeria is not suffering from a lack of policies, but from policies that never move beyond paper.
He described the country as a “graveyard of unimplemented policies,” noting that weak execution has allowed farmer–herder tensions to evolve into a complex national threat shaped by climate pressures, land scarcity, population growth, trans-border migration and fragile governance structures.
Ochogwu warned that without coordinated action between federal ministries, state governments, local authorities and community leaders, these pressures could overwhelm existing institutions and deepen insecurity.
He stressed that traditional rulers, pastoralist associations, farmers’ groups and religious leaders must be treated as core partners in policy implementation, not observers brought in after decisions have been made.
The meeting also discussed rising concerns over communal violence and claims of targeted attacks on specific religious groups. Ochogwu acknowledged the emotional weight of allegations that Christians are being systematically exterminated but cautioned against narratives not supported by verified evidence, noting that terrorism, banditry, resource competition and historical grievances affect all communities.
He called for stronger early-warning systems, improved regulation of pastoral movement and policies that prevent local disputes from escalating into large-scale atrocities.
However, participants agreed that peacebuilding cannot rely solely on government structures, emphasizing the influence of religious and traditional institutions, especially in rural communities most affected by the conflict.
IPCR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government through conflict analysis, policy advisory services, mediation and early-warning mechanisms, insisting that transforming livestock policy into practical action is now a prerequisite for national stability.
According to Ochogwu, moving from intention to impact is the only path to sustainable peace, and strengthening coordination in the livestock sector ultimately strengthens Nigeria itself.
