Anambra Assembly holds public hearing on Anti-Open Grazing Law

The Anambra State House of Assembly, on Thursday, held a one-day public hearing on a Bill for a Law on Open Grazing of Cattle and other Livestock Prohibition and Ranches Establishment at the Conference Hall, Government House Awka.

In his remark at the hearing, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Uche Okafor, said the anti-open grazing bill is not targeted at anybody or group but to promote peaceful co-existence in the state.

According to the Speaker, the public hearing was important, because, as we are all aware, Open grazing of Cattle with its associated problems has generated a lot of interest and concern in the country with the Southern Nigeria Governors resolving that a bill prohibiting open grazing be passed by all of its member states.

He said the idea is to harness the inputs and opinions of diverse stakeholders on the matter so that what finally emerges will be a product of consensus opinion of all relevant segments of Anambra State.

“The expectation is that the public hearing would elicit expert opinion and sundry views on the subject and that the resultant Law would serve the best interest of all,” he added.

The Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. John Nwokoye, said the bill, pending before the assembly, is aimed at ending the farmers/herders crisis, which has led to the needless destruction of lives and properties in the state.

He said that the public hearing was to afford the residents to make their contributions to the crucial bill, noting that every opinion expressed would be considered during the passage of the bill.

National Vice Chairman, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene while urging the Lawmakers to expedite action on the bill, said that the bill, when accented by Governor Willie Obiano, would forestall farmers/herders clashes as well as killing and raping of women by herdsmen in the state.

In their separate submissions, the chairman of Anambra West Council Area Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Benjamin Ochechi, and the State President General of Anambra State Association ofTown Union (ASATU), Barrister Titus Akudo, said they are in support of the bill, which according to them is long overdue.

They appealed to the lawmakers to involve them actively on the agenda.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Nnamdi Onukwuba, on his part, pointed out that the menace of farmers/ herders crisis is much in the country, emphasising that his ministry is always inundated with complaints from farmers on the destruction of their crops.

However, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association, (MACBAN), in South East, Siddiki Gidado, requested the assembly to give them some months to articulate the association’s position on the bill.

While commending the state governor, for the care of his members in the state, informed the Lawmakers that MACBAN was not against the Law, but appealing to allow them to operate until they get used to the modern means of grazing.

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Anambra Assembly holds public hearing on Anti-Open Grazing Law

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