Anti-Open Grazing Bill Passes First Reading In Delta  Assembly

 

 

 

BY Charles Nwabardi

 

 

A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Regulation of Livestock Grazing, Rearing and Marketing and To Prohibit Open Grazing and Related Matters, passed first reading on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday.

 

The motion was moved by Hon. Oghenerume Yakubu Reuben, the member representing Ughelli South constituency and was seconded by Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, the Deputy Speaker of the House.

 

The Speaker, Oborevwori, slated 14th, July 2021 for the second reading of the Bill. This is obviously to keep pace with the September 1, 2021 deadline agreed by the Southern States’ Governors as the implementation date for the Anti-Open Grazing law in their respective states.

 

It would be recalled that following the savagery of the Fulani herdsmen and their unprovoked attacks on farmers and  communities in Southern States of Nigeria, the Governors of the 17 states in a meeting in Asaba, Delta State about two months ago declared their opposition again open grazing of cattles in their states.

 

Their resolution against open grazing was backed up with their determination to give legal backing to it.  Sequel to the resolution in Asaba, the Governors in their second meeting held in Lagos last week agreed that  by September 1, 2021 all the Southern States must have enacted their respective Anti-Open Grazing Law.