Abstract
In Nigeria, there have been clashes between herdsmen and crop farmers. While a lot of people have adjudged it to be solely a religious and political affair, the reality on the ground that cannot be ignored is the fact that the fight for limited resources has led to this conflict. Countless lives, properties and source of livelihoods have been lost because of the competition for limited natural resources. A cow on average contributes between 70 and 120 kg of methane per year, and Nigeria has 20 million of them. Calling for a boycott of beef and increasing prices of beef and beef-based commodities in this part of the world, because of its contribution to climate change is unrealistic as Nigerians still struggle to meet their dietary protein requirement. It is of paramount importance that the focus of the government and all concerned stakeholders shift from just ending the conflicts in addressing the root cause and putting sustainable structures in place for a lasting solution guaranteeing food security. This paper aims to establish the need for concerted efforts towards addressing climate change in the face of geometrically increasing populations and rapidly decreasing finite resources which have induced conflict between farmers and herdsmen over limited and scarce resources.
•Overgrazing has both positive and negative effects regarding carbon sequestration.•Cow produces between 70 and 120 kg of methane/year, and Nigeria has 20 million of them.•Nigeria lost 39.2% of its vegetation cover (forest and woodland) between 1990 and 2005.•Intensity of cattle grazing can have a huge impact on carbon stocks in grasslands.