Rivers State, on Thursday, became the foremost state in the South-South geo-political zone to enact an edict to outlaw open grazing of livestock across the state.
This follows the signing into law by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, of the Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Law No 5 of 2021, among other laws, recently passed by the State House of Assembly.
In addition to the Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Law, No 5 of 2021; the governor also signed the Valued Added Tax Law No. 4 of 2021; The Child’s Rights Amendment Law No 2 of 2021; The Residents Registration Agency Law No 6 of 2021 and the Naming and Renaming of Infrastructure Law No3 of 2021.
Speaking on the Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition law, No.5 of 2021, the governor said it is inimical to development and peace, for any state to condone open grazing of cattle.
He said cattle rearing is an agricultural business and the law, which has specified ranching, is so intended in order to stem clash between herdsmen who go to destroy farmland, crops, and having problems with farmers that lead to fighting and killing of themselves.
“It is no longer a story. All of us know what our people have suffered in terms of this open grazing. Today all Nigerians have come to accept the reality that open grazing is no longer fashionable. Even our brothers in the north have agreed that it is no longer fashionable.”
The governor also said that with the Residents Registration Agency Law No 6 of 2021, every resident in the state will be registered so that the state government can know their status, what they do and where they reside for purposes of security planning.
On his part, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Ibani said that the law banning open grazing in Rivers State will serve as both cure to the symptom and the disease of herders and farmers bloody conflicts.
He said lawmakers will continue to partner with the executive in providing requisite laws that will advance the state for the good of posterity.
Recall that sometime in May, 17 governors of the southern states of Nigeria at a meeting resolved legal steps to end the practice of the open grazing of livestock, especially cows.
The decision came off the heals of the increasing crisis between herders and farmers across many parts of the country that had resulted in the loss of lives and property and contributed to the current food shortages being experienced in the country.
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