Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Anti-Open Grazing Bill

Gov Obiano Signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill, Orders Immediate Enforcement
Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has joined his counterparts in the southern region of the country to sign the anti-open grazing bill into law.
He assented to the Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State on Friday at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka.
Governor Obiano explained that the decision of the state government to outlaw the open grazing of cattle and other livestock was to enhance peace between the farmers and the herders in Anambra.
According to him, the management of the crisis between farmers and herders has been a short-term measure and it has become necessary for the government to take decisive action.
The governor stated that the law enforcement agencies have been directed to immediately commence the implementation of the law.
Anambra is the most recent state to enact such a law after authorities in Rivers, Ondo, and Lagos, among other southern states, had done the same.
The proscription of open grazing by the states is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum, in a bid to tackle the crises between herders and farmers that have claimed many lives in the region.
At a meeting of the governors held on September 16 in Enugu, member-states were reminded about the need to enact or amend the anti-open grazing law to align with the uniform template and aspiration of the forum.
They had commended the rate at which the states in the South were enacting the law and encouraged those yet to enact it to do so expeditiously.
But the position of the governors was faulted by some prominent Nigerians, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who said it was unconstitutional.
October 22, 2021
Delta State Govt. Signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill Into Law
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has signed the bill prohibiting open grazing across the state, into law.
He assented to the bill on Thursday at the Government House in Asaba, a week after members of the Delta State House of Assembly passed the ‘Bill Prohibiting Open Grazing, Indiscriminate Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing of Livestock in Delta State’.
Lawmakers in the state had passed the bill following the adoption of a motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Ferguson Onwo.
“Through the passage of this bill, the State House of Assembly has demonstrated its resolve to protect Deltans (residents) from the menace of clashes between herders and farmers,” said Speaker Sherrif Oborevwori who presided over the plenary during which the bill was passed.
“I commend all the sponsors of this bill for recognising that the security of lives and properties of Deltans, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), remains sacrosanct.”
Tackling Herders-Farmers Crisis
Delta is the most recent state to enact such a law after authorities in Rivers, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos had done the same.
The prohibition of open grazing by these states is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum, as part of measures to tackle the conflicts between herders and farmers.
During a meeting of the governors held on September 16 in Enugu, member-states were reminded about the need to enact or amend the anti-open grazing law to align with the uniform template and aspiration of the forum.
They had commended the rate at which the states in the South were enacting the law and encouraged those yet to enact it to do so expeditiously.
But the position of the governors was faulted by some Nigerians, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who said it was unconstitutional.
September 30, 2021
BREAKING: Lagos State Govt. Signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill Into Law
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the bill prohibiting open grazing in Lagos into law.
The governor assented to the bill at the Lagos House on Monday.
This is coming 11 days after the State House of Assembly passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state.
After passing the bill on September 9, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues to grow.
The issue of open-grazing has been a sensitive one in the country as it has created a rift between the southern governors and pastoralists.
As part of measures to contain the killings, the southern governors met in Lagos on July 5 and had far-reaching conclusions on open grazing, restructuring Nigeria, and calls for state police.
After the meeting, the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, said the governors agreed on a deadline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing law among its member states.
September 20, 2021
Osun State Govt. assents Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law
Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has signed the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law to prevent killings, environmental degradation caused by open rearing and grazing of livestock.
The bill was passed by the state House of Assembly on August 12, and transmitted to the Governor for assent.
Confirming the signing of the bill, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, said the governor signed the bill into law immediately the bill was transmitted from the House of Assembly to the office of the Governor.
He said “we have notified the security agencies that will enforce the law in every part of the state, so, it is a crime to practice open grazing in Osun state.”
He noted that the conveyance of livestock on foot from one destination to another in the State is prohibited, except such movement is by Rail Wagon or Truck or pick-up wagon and is within 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The bill prohibits minor from grazing, rearing or herding of livestock except under the supervision of an adult.
The bill reads: “Any person or group who contravenes the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to terms of imprisonment of not less than 3 years without the option of fine as well as forfeiture of the herds of Cattle or livestock under his or her control to the State Government.
“A minor who contravenes the provision of Section 3 (4) committed an offence, and the guardian or parent of the minor or owner of the livestock as the case may be, shall be vicariously liable on conviction to a fine of N300,000.00 only.”
September 15, 2021
Gov Ugwuanyi signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill into Law
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has signed the anti-open grazing bill into law, at the Government House, Enugu.
The bill which is for a law prohibits open grazing, regulates cattle ranching, and for connected purposes was recently passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, had explained after the passage of the bill, that it would be cited as the “Prohibition of Open Grazing and Cattle Ranching Law of Enugu State,” after the governor’s assent.
Gov. Ugwuanyi’s assent to this bill is expected to improve security and peace in the state.
September 14, 2021
BREAKING: Enugu Assembly passes Anti-Open Grazing Bill
The Enugu State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed the open grazing prohibition bill into law.
The bill scaled through the third reading after a clause by clause consideration.
The passage came in line with the September 1 deadline issued by the Southern Governors for an end to open rearing of cattle.
The State Assembly earlier in the week held a public hearing on the bill, during which the umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen, the Miyetti Allah had asked for one month extension to enable them make input on the bill.
However, at plenary on Thursday the bill was passed into law and would now be sent to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his assent.
More to come…
September 2, 2021
BREAKING: Akeredolu signs Anti-Open grazing bill into law
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has signed into law the Anti-Grazing Bill passed by the State House of Assembly.
Reports earlier had it that the Governor would sign the bill into law on Tuesday (Today).
The assent by the Governor is coming a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari directed that 368 grazing sites across 25 states of the country be reviewed.
The move of the governor is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum at its last meeting in Lagos on July 5, 2021, where leaders of the region unanimously adopted September 1, 2021, as the deadline for the signing of the bill.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ondo State, Donald Ojogo, said Governor Akeredolu signed the bill into law in his office on Tuesday.
“The move is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum at its last meeting in Lagos where September 1st was set as the deadline for Governors in Southern Nigeria to sign the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law.
“This is worthwhile and a very laudable development aimed at stemming needless instances of skirmishes, conflicts as well as infractions on the enviably peaceful disposition of the good people of Ondo State.
“It is very pertinent to aver and indeed, reiterate that the Law shall rather, engender a more cordial, mutually benefiting relationship amongst residents of the State irrespective of ethnicity, religion or creed. For emphasis, no particular group of persons is the target.
“While it is the hope of Government that all residents would take ample advantage of this Law to enhance our socio-economic well being in Ondo State, compliance of same shall be given the utmost attention. Government shall pursue with vigour, through lawful means, to ensure strict compliance.
“In this regard, details of the new Law shall be made available to the public for proper information, more depth of understanding on contents as well as other relevant areas”, the statement said.
The bill had on July 2, 2021, been passed by the State House of Assembly as a part of moves to solve the issue of insecurity, rearing as well as grazing of livestock in the state.
August 31, 2021
BREAKING: Rivers Assembly Passes Anti-Open Grazing Bill
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the anti-open grazing bill.
The bill, Prohibition of Open Rearing of Livestock and Ranching Administration, was passed after an extensive debate by members of the House.
It was passed after the joint Committee on Environment and Agriculture submitted its report to the House.
The lawmaker representing Obio Akpor Constituency II, Micheal Chinda, however, voted against the passage of the bill, citing the refusal of the House to expunge section 5 L of the bill allowing for the creation of pathways for the movement of cattle.
Chinda said “I had expected the committee to delete clause 5L; They didn’t do it, they left it there which means they want to create pathways. I’m not against the creation of pathways, but Obio Akpor does not have space for pathways, I don’t know what happens in the other twenty two local governments but I am talking about Obio Akpor and constituency 2 for that matter.
“You know how heavily populated we are, we are talking about where human beings will stay, not where animals will be moving”.
The speaker, Ikuyi Awaji Ibani, in his resolution, explained that the bill, when signed into law, will regulate animal grazing and establishment of cattle ranching in the state.
August 18, 2021
Wike set to send anti-open grazing bill to Rivers Assembly
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has promised to give the ban on open-grazing in the state a legal backing by sending the required bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The governor said his administration settled for an anti-open grazing bill to protect the people of the state.
At the inauguration of the Isaiah Odoli/Omerelu Streets in New GRA Phase 1 in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area on Wednesday, Wike said the proposed bill was in harmony with the resolution of the Southern governors.
He said: “You can’t go to the farm anymore, those who rear cattle; they’ll not allow your crops to grow. Let me say clearly, now that the House of Assembly has come back, we have to submit the bill on Anti-Open Grazing as we agreed in the Southern Governors’ Forum.
Wike said Nigeria was on life support and required prayers from the citizens to salvage the county.
He said: “Since APC came into power, you can now see what Nigeria has turned to. Each day you wake up, you hear people are being killed. If you watch television and read the news in newspapers, you will hear so and so number are killed or kidnapped in so and so state.
“That is not what I thought all of us needed. The country is on oxygen (life support). Nobody knows what will happen next. As we are today, Nigeria is in dire need of help. Nigeria needs prayers.”
Wike also said the APC-led Federal Government had not done anything in Rivers State for the people, describing as untrue the claim by the Federal Government that it was jointly executing the Bonny-Bodo Road.
The governor noted that every road in the Old and New GRAs had been rehabilitated under the Urban Renewal Programme of his administration except the Orugbum Crescent in the new GRA.

Inaugurating the road project, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, said Rivers people were fortunate to have a governor who fulfilled promises.
Mark said: “All the year-round, you are bringing people to inaugurate project here like me. (Rivers) Now, you have a governor who has fulfilled his promises and done beyond his promises.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the streets prior to reconstruction were narrow and had a good number of potholes.
He said: “Today on Omerelu Street, we have a 12-meters wide reconstructed road with 1960 meters of drains and eight meters wide road on Isaiah Odoli Street.”
June 17, 2021