Anti-Open Grazing: Delta State Govt Gets Livestock Management Committee
- Delta state has gone beyond banning open grazing in their domain but also setting up a livestock management committee
- The Southern Governors Forum had resolved to kick out herdsmen roaming about in their states with a law
- Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has now set up a committee as a follow up to signing the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Bill 2021
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Asaba - Delta governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, December 14 inaugurated a 19-member Livestock Management Committee as part of the provisions of the anti-open grazing law recently enacted in the state.
Inaugurating the committee at Government House, Asaba, the governor charged the members to ensure that the law was effectively implemented in the best interest of citizens of the state.
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He said that Delta had been home to many diverse people living peacefully among the indigenes until the influx of criminal elements who had turned the bushes into a den of criminality.
His words:
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“A few weeks ago, the Delta State House of Assembly passed the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Bill 2021.
“I must thank them sincerely for putting a seal in the law which, was an Executive Bill following the resolution of the Southern Governors' Forum which met in Asaba.
“I want to use this medium to thank members who have accepted to serve on the committee. There is no doubt that we have been living peacefully with our brothers from the north.
“Unfortunately, over time we have a lot of persons who have come into our bushes and many times unknown to those whom our people relate with and they have turned our bushes into a den of criminality.
“They have been involved in kidnapping, killings, and raping of our women and also extorting people going about their legitimate businesses.
“Some of them deliberately take their cattle to farms and consume crops belonging to farmers, and obviously, this is not acceptable. So, this law is put together to regulate livestock management in the state.’’
Okowa explained that in constituting the committee the government ensured that there were representatives of the Delta State Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association and the Butchers Union in the committee.
He said that the government was not also unmindful of those who went about their normal businesses of cattle-rearing without infringing on the rights of farmers, but added that there was a need to be protective of farmers and to fish out every criminal element who had remained a security threat to the state.
He added:
“It is my hope that this committee will carry out its work with decency in such a manner that will be beneficial to the people of the state.’’
How Okowa signed the anti-open grazing bill into law
Recall that Governor Okowa on Thursday, September 30 signed the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021, otherwise known as Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law.
The governor also used the opportunity to call on the federal government to assist interested farmers to establish ranches across the country.
Governor Okowa said that the Delta State Livestock Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulations law had taken a new life of its own in the country.
Delta government outlines benefits of open grazing ban
Delta state commissioner for information, Charles Aniagwu had on Thursday, September 2 said the law to ban open grazing in Delta state would promote healthy and harmonious living among farmers and herders.
Speaking on national TV, the commissioner said that the law was not targeted at any section of the society but to provide a healthy living among stakeholders in the farming and cattle rearing business.
He said that the constant clashes between farmers and herders in the country necessitated the call for legislation to ban open grazing, especially in southern Nigeria.
Source: Legit.ng
