The 2027 senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Juliet Muoneme, has pledged to sponsor legislation aimed at ending the roaming of cattle on Abuja roads and establishing properly organised ranches across the territory if elected.
Muoneme made the pledge on Friday in Abuja during a media engagement with the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), describing the continued presence of cattle on major roads as a safety concern that requires a comprehensive and sustainable policy response.
She said her proposed legislation would go beyond simply prohibiting cattle from public roads by providing a structured system for livestock management and creating designated ranches and facilities for cattle owners.
“Not just stopping them from moving, but how do we take care of them too,” Muoneme said.
According to her, the FCT has sufficient land to accommodate properly organised ranches where cattle can be kept and managed away from busy roads and residential areas.
“FCT is so wide, is so large that we can actually create ranches,” she said.
Muoneme said the proposed intervention would combine regulation of cattle movement with measures designed to improve livestock management, describing the initiative as “two bills in one.”
She maintained that the objective was not to criminalise cattle ownership but to create an organised system that would protect residents and road users while improving the welfare and economic prospects of livestock owners.
The PRP candidate said organised ranching could also unlock opportunities across the livestock value chain, including meat production, dairy, hides and skins, while creating jobs and reducing accidents and traffic disruptions caused by cattle wandering onto major roads.
She said her experience in livestock management had shown that cattle could be kept in designated locations rather than being allowed to roam freely.
The issue of roaming cattle has remained a recurring challenge in Abuja despite previous efforts by the FCT Administration to restrict open grazing. In June 2026, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike apologised to residents over the continued presence of cattle on Abuja roads and said he accepted responsibility for the situation.
Muoneme said her approach would seek to balance the interests of residents with those of livestock owners, while repositioning cattle as economic assets capable of contributing more significantly to the FCT economy.
She said the proposed livestock policy would form part of her broader FCT RISE Agenda, which she described as her framework for representation if elected.
According to her, the agenda would focus on representation, research, innovation, inclusion, stewardship, entrepreneurship and empowerment, with emphasis on practical solutions to challenges affecting residents across the FCT’s six area councils.
Muoneme identified housing, youth unemployment, skills development and limited access to economic opportunities as some of the issues requiring urgent attention.
On housing, she proposed collaboration among government, private developers and financial institutions to expand access to affordable housing through mortgage arrangements.
She also proposed the establishment of an automobile hub where mechanics, electricians and other professionals could operate, while engineering graduates would receive practical training and industry experience.
The PRP candidate, who has a background in education, research and human-capacity development, said her ambition was driven by a desire to provide practical solutions to societal challenges.
“Politics is not dirty. Politics is about leadership. Politics is service,” she said.
Muoneme maintained that an FCT senator should be a strong voice for residents across all six area councils and use the legislative platform to influence policies and projects capable of improving their quality of life.
She said tackling cattle roaming would therefore be part of her broader agenda to restore urban order, protect residents, create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life in Nigeria’s capital.
