KIU Journal of Social Sciences 63 KIU Journal of Social Sciences Copyright©2021 Kampala International University ISSN: 2413-9580; 7(1): 63- 71 Open Grazing, Food Insecurity and Sustainable Human Development in Nigeria: A Horn of Dilemma CHINYEAKA JUSTINE IGBOKWE-IBETO, IFEOMA LORRETO NNAJI Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria ADA MAC-OZIGBO National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria Abstract. Nigeria is blessed with numerous agro- ecological resources that should make it a major exporter of food items in the world. Regrettably, it has become a major food importer as a result of food insecurity. The critical state of food production in the country is worsened by the phenomena of open grazing, climate change, global warming and the Covid-19 global pandemic. These developments have deleterious effects on agricultural activities in general, food production and sustainable human development in particular. While there are policies and agencies in the state to combat these developments, it appears they have proved ineffective in the face of increasing inconsistency in government policies, open grazing, climate change and global warming. The article within the framework of modernisation theory examines the issues of open grazing, food insecurity and sustainable human development in Nigeria. This is because any country that cannot feed its population cannot boost of human development. This study was carried out using the qualitative desktop method in deriving data for addressing the issues under analysis. 31 literature sources were consulted and analysed in order to explore the nexus between open grazing, food insecurity and sustainable human development in Nigeria. This article adopts a qualitative approach and is descriptive in nature, with the researcher setting out to illustrate the association that exists between the dependent and independent variables. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed, during a desktop study. The purpose was to identify the relevant publications and apply them in the research. The article argues that unless concrete efforts are made to mitigate the effects of open grazing and Covid-19, ensure increased and improved food production, the country may experience worst cases of Fulani herdsmen-farmer clashes, food crisis and human underdevelopment. The article concludes that government at all level should rise up to their responsibilities by providing enabling environment for herdsmen and farmer to engage in the production of sufficient food for sustainable human development in the country. Keywords: Conflict, environment, peace, sustainability, survive 1. Introduction Nigeria has the potentials to be a great country. It has the human capital and natural resources to put itself in the comity of developed nations. In spite of its huge and enormous potentials, the country remains a crippled giant (Osaghae 2011). One area that it has failed to leave up to expectations is in feeding its over 200 million population. While the increase in population has been growing in arithmetic progression, however, food production is growing in geometric progression thereby not able to provide sufficient food for such increase in population. The current Coronavirus (Covid-19) global pandemic has worsened the situation. This has led to food shortage and crisis of human development in the country, thus, leading to scarcity and high cost in the prices of staple food in the country. Currently, so many citizens and non-Nigerian alike cannot meet their food requirements because food prices have gone up beyond the reach of most citizens, thereby making the people susceptible to hunger, malnutrition, diseases and other health hazard. Besides, it reduces their potentials to engage in other productive human activities such as education, fishing, farming and other mental and physical activities.