PRP FCT Senatorial Candidate Promises Bill to End Cattle Roaming in Abuja

The 2027 senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Juliet Muoneme, has promised to sponsor legislation to regulate cattle movement and end the roaming of cows on Abuja streets and major roads if elected.

Muoneme made the pledge on Friday in Abuja during a media engagement with the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), where she said the persistent presence of cattle on major roads required a policy that would protect residents while also providing a structured environment for livestock owners.

Cattle roaming in Abuja has remained a longstanding issue despite previous attempts by the FCT Administration to restrict open grazing within the city. The administration announced a ban on open grazing in 2021, with designated grazing areas proposed in parts of the FCT.

The problem, however, has persisted. In June 2026, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike apologised to residents over the continued presence of cattle on Abuja roads and said he took responsibility for the situation.

Muoneme said her proposed intervention would go beyond simply banning cattle from roads by creating a system that would regulate livestock production and provide alternative locations for cattle owners.

According to her, the legislation should address both the need to keep cattle off public roads and the need to provide appropriate facilities for livestock owners.

“Not just stopping them from moving, but how do we take care of them too,” she said, adding that the FCT had enough land to accommodate properly organised ranches.

Muoneme argued that cattle should be treated as an economic asset rather than simply as a source of urban inconvenience.

“FCT is so wide, is so large that we can actually create ranches,” she said.

She said ranching could provide opportunities for meat production, hides and skins, dairy and other aspects of the livestock value chain, while eliminating the hazards associated with animals wandering across busy roads.

The PRP candidate said her experience of livestock management had shown her that cattle could be kept in designated locations rather than allowed to roam freely.

She therefore proposed a policy framework that would encourage cattle owners to adopt ranching and provide the necessary feed and facilities for their animals.

Muoneme said the objective should not be to criminalise livestock ownership but to create an organised system that would serve both residents and cattle owners.

“There will be two bills in one,” she said, explaining that the proposed approach would combine regulation of cattle movement with measures for proper livestock management.

The senatorial candidate also outlined her proposed FCT RISE Agenda, which she said would provide the framework for her representation if elected.

According to her, RISE would focus on representation, research, innovation, inclusion, stewardship, entrepreneurship and empowerment.

She said the agenda would seek to address some of the major challenges confronting residents across the six area councils, including housing, youth unemployment, skills development and inadequate access to opportunities.

Muoneme proposed collaboration with private developers and financial institutions to expand access to decent and affordable housing in the FCT.

She also disclosed plans for an automobile hub where mechanics, electricians and other automobile professionals could operate while graduates of engineering-related disciplines would receive practical training.

She said her broader objective was to bridge the gap between the talents possessed by FCT residents and the opportunities available to them.

The PRP candidate, who has a background in education, research and human-capacity development, said her interest in public service was driven by the desire to move from complaining about societal problems to developing practical solutions.

“Politics is not dirty. Politics is about leadership. Politics is service,” she said.

Muoneme maintained that the senator representing the FCT should serve as a strong voice for residents of all six area councils and use the office to influence policies and projects that would improve their quality of life.

She said her proposed cattle legislation would therefore form part of a broader agenda aimed at improving urban order, economic opportunities and the quality of life in the nation’s capital.