Illegal: Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly passes Anti-Grazing Bill into Law as 6 more southern states shy away from the law
A Bill for a Law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches in Akwa Ibom State has been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
This followed a report of the Joint House Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as Lands and Housing presented at Plenary on Tuesday. Presenting the Committees’ Report, Hon. Asuquo Udo observed that the passage of the Bill into Law will promote modern techniques of animal husbandry, prevent the destruction of farms, while also reducing clashes and killings between herders and farmers in the state.
“The Bill will promote international best practices in livestock administration, regulation, and control in the state, among other things”, he added.
He revealed that copies of the Bill were sent to relevant stakeholders, from who inputs were solicited and obtained through a memorandum submitted to the Committee at the Public Hearing.
“Copies of the Bill were sent to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Civil Society groups, Cattle Dealers Association, Arewa Community, Igbo Community, Yoruba Community in Akwa Ibom State and other stakeholders.
Inputs from stakeholders were solicited and obtained through memoranda submitted at the Public Hearing”, he added. After considering the report at the Committee of the Whole, the House passed the Bill into Law, with Tuesday, September 14, 2021, as its commencement date. In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, directed the Clerk, Mrs. Mandu Umoren to communicate the decision of the House to the appropriate authorities.
Also at the plenary, the House resolved a Motion on Revamping Of Ikot Abasi Fish Farm and Hatchery Complex, brought by the Member representing Ikot Abasi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh. In the meantime, the House has adjourned its plenary to Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 10 am.
The passage of the anti-grazing bill into law makes Akwa Ibom the latest state in southern Nigeria to make open grazing illegal in Nigeria.
The development pulled Akwa Ibom out league of states where anti-grazing laws are either awaiting governors’ assent or still in the works in parliament, leaving Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Enugu, Imo, and Delta in that category.
Only five states, Bayelsa, Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, and Abia, had complied with the 1st September 2021 deadline for all 17 southern states to implement laws prohibiting open grazing of cattle in the region.
In a related development, on Friday, September 10, the Delta state administration clarified that it was not acquiring lands for herdsmen as had been claimed in some quarters.
Mr. Charles Aniagwu, the state commissioner for information, said the bill before the House of Assembly was for the control of livestock breeding, rearing, and selling in the state.
He stated that, contrary to popular belief, the state was not acquiring land to construct ranches.
Ranching, like any other company, is a private issue, according to Aniagwu, who noted that anyone interested in building ranches in any section of the state was free to do so in compliance with applicable regulations.
He advised Deltans and the broader public to dismiss earlier reports that the government was offering land for herders as a substitute for the open grazing prohibition.
On Thursday, September 2, Aniagwu stated that the Delta state law prohibiting open grazing would encourage healthy and harmonious living among farmers and herders.
