Tinubu Abuja Ranch Plan Signals Shift

Tinubu Abuja ranch plan signals shift in rural investment, as presidency prioritizes livestock, road access, and grassroots prosperity.

A New Direction in Abuja’s Rural Policy

In what may signal a transformative chapter for Nigeria’s capital territory,

President Bola Tinubu has unveiled an ambitious initiative that could finally bridge the rural-urban divide long entrenched in Abuja’s outskirts.

Speaking from Kwali Area Council on Monday, the president proposed the establishment of ranches as part of a larger rural revitalization strategy an idea that may redefine how agricultural infrastructure, grazing rights,

and rural economies are approached in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

But beneath the policy promise lies a deeper message: a shift from urban-only development to inclusive, grassroots-led growth.

From Mechanization to Mobility: A Dual-Purpose Presidential Tour

President Tinubu’s comments came shortly after he commissioned a 15-kilometre road linking A2 Junction on the Abuja–Lokoja expressway to Pai town in Kwali.

Though a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the surface, the event doubled as a high-stakes policy reveal.

The president, who had just attended a mechanization project elsewhere, expressed deep concern over the condition of rural livelihoods and declared his administration’s intent to offer tangible support to farmers and herders operating along the Pai–Gomani corridor.

“We saw opportunities and prosperity on our way here,” Tinubu noted. “Now is the time to convert conflict zones into corridors of commerce.”

Ranches as a Tool for Peace and Prosperity

At the heart of the president’s speech was a bold proposal to introduce structured ranches in the Abuja rural belt.

In a country where farmer-herder conflicts have turned deadly and land use remains contentious, the move is poised to address more than just animal husbandry.

“We want to create spaces where both farmers and herders thrive,” Tinubu said. “No Nigerian should feel excluded from development whether they till the soil or tend to livestock.”

The proposed ranches would not only provide dedicated grazing areas but also serve as agro-economic zones, integrating veterinary services, markets, and conflict mediation frameworks.

This would be a first for FCT’s satellite regions, which have largely been seen as peripheral to national economic planning.

Wike Draws the Line: No Room for “Political Farmers”

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, standing alongside the president, threw his weight behind the initiative but with one caveat.

Farmland, he stressed, would be reserved strictly for serious agricultural investors.

“We are not giving land to political farmers,” Wike declared. “This is not about speculation. This is about solving Nigeria’s food security crisis.”

He further revealed that the FCT Administration was ready to compensate local communities in Kwali and surrounding areas for land allocated toward ranching and farming, provided the applicants show genuine agricultural intent.

A Corridor Reimagined: Road as Rural Lifeline

The newly constructed Pai road is more than asphalt and gravel it’s a statement. According to President Tinubu, the road opens access to previously cut-off communities, enabling better access to commerce, education, and security.

“Imagine if there was a crime here before today,” Wike remarked. “How would law enforcement even get in? Now they can.”

The 15km stretch is part of a broader 150km network of rural roads the Tinubu administration has overseen across FCT’s six Area Councils. These include:

9km Paikon Kore–Ibwa road (Gwagwalada)

5km Gaba–Tokulo road with bridges

5km carriageway from Tipper Garage to LEA Secretariat (Kuje)

11km Yangoji–Sukuku–Ebbo road (Kwali)

Saburi temporary access roads connecting to the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX)

Upgrades near Dei-Dei International Market (AMAC)

Each road project, according to Wike, follows Tinubu’s directive to handle them as emergency needs an urgent response to decades of neglect.

“Balanced Development, Not Political Favouritism”

In a subtle rebuke to critics who say Abuja’s development is too city-centric, Tinubu emphasized that rural areas would no longer be left behind.

“Development must be inclusive, not lopsided,” he asserted. “Our goal is to lift every Nigerian, from the skyscrapers of Maitama to the farmlands of Pai.”

The president also acknowledged the role of traditional rulers and community leaders in preserving order and encouraging agricultural self-sufficiency in the area.

He urged them to continue supporting the government’s efforts in converting rural liabilities into assets.

Turning a Conflict Zone into a Growth Hub

Pai and its neighbouring communities are no strangers to the strains of Nigeria’s fraught farmer-herder relations.

But Tinubu’s tone on Monday suggested a break from past federal hesitations in addressing rural conflicts head-on.

“This is how peace begins,” said Yusuf Muktar, a local farmer in attendance. “When government builds roads, gives us land, and treats us like we matter.”

With the new road complete and ranching plans on the horizon, Muktar believes Kwali may soon become a model for national agricultural coexistence.

Farming the Future: Abuja’s Untapped Agrarian Goldmine

For decades, Abuja’s agricultural potential has been overshadowed by its status as Nigeria’s political capital.

However, the vast arable land surrounding the city presents an untapped opportunity one the Tinubu administration now seems eager to harness.

Wike highlighted the connection between food insecurity and underused farmland: “The answer to hunger is not more talk. It’s land, access, and real farmers.”

He emphasized that the government’s role is not just in policy but in clearing bureaucratic and physical barriers for agriculture to thrive.

Voices from the Grassroots: What Residents Are Saying

Across Pai and nearby villages, the reaction to the new road and ranching proposal was largely positive.

For many, the combination of infrastructure and opportunity represents a long-awaited promise finally taking shape.

“This is not just politics; this is survival,” said Adamu Bala, a livestock herder from Gomani. “If we get our grazing areas and security improves, our children will have peace.”

Grace Aluko, a teacher at a local primary school, echoed similar sentiments. “It used to take me over an hour of treacherous footpaths to get to work.

Now I can take a bike and be there in 15 minutes. It changes everything.”

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Beyond Pai: A Blueprint for National Reform?

While the event was localized, its implications may reverberate across Nigeria’s broader agricultural landscape.

If implemented effectively, the Abuja ranch plan could serve as a pilot program for integrating conflict resolution, food security, and rural empowerment through one initiative.

Analysts suggest that the success of the project may encourage replication in high-conflict states like Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau.

“Tinubu is gambling on infrastructure as a tool for unity,” said Dr. Esther Iroanya, a rural development expert. “It’s bold, but if it works, it will redefine rural governance in Nigeria.”

The Real Test Begins Now

While Monday’s speeches and ribbon-cutting offered hope, the road ahead both literal and political remains long.

The success of Tinubu’s Abuja rural strategy will depend on consistency, transparency in land allocation, and a willingness to confront entrenched interests.

For now, however, a small road in Kwali stands as a symbol of what could be: a Nigeria where rural lives aren’t an afterthought but a priority.