The Southern Governors’ Forum has directed state houses of assembly in the 17 southern states to enact laws backing the ban on open grazing.
Recall that one of the resolutions of the forum’s meeting in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday, May 11, was the ban on open grazing and movement of cattle by foot to the southern states.
To cement the resolution, chairman of the forum and governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who spoke through his commissioner of information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu said every state would enact its law to enforce the ban.
“Every state will put in place a law that will be used to prosecute anybody that goes against the ban.
“The governors of the south have agreed with their people that the right thing to do is to ban open grazing,” he said.
Recall that yesterday (Wednesday) the governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu who presided over the Asaba meeting said in an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme ‘Sunrise Daily’ that the ban on open grazing was not entirely a new decision.
“It is not an entirely new issue; most of the governors have placed a ban on open grazing in their states before the meeting. Most of the states have passed laws on open grazing. Virtually all of us have passed that law.
“We felt that this open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers.
“Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry.
“In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt,” he said.
Akeredolu said the federal governor needed to support the state governments that wanted to set up ranches, adding that it would benefit the herders who were exposed to dangers as they roamed with their cattle.
“At the meeting, we referred to what Governor (Abdullahi) Ganduje said. It was clear that he is also against open grazing. He says it does not augur well and the herders also do not benefit from it. There is no development, they are exposed to dangers,” Akeredolu stated.
