By 
Tayo AFOLABI
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has hinted that his administration was considering banning open grazing in the state.
Masari, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today “ on Monday, faulted the movement of herders from one part of the country to another.
He gave an insight into how cattle rustling snowballed into the current spate of kidnapping and banditry in the north-west zone of the country.
“This roaming about I don’t think. For us, it’s un-Islamic and is not the best. It is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is,” Masari told newsmen.
He explained that before the state would create a law banning the open grazing of livestock, the government would make provisions to house the animals.
Masari said: “We intend to have a law banning (cattle) roaming but before we do that, we would make provisions for where the animals would stay.
“Herdsmen should stay in one place. Roaming about should not be encouraged. In fact, for us, it is un-Islamic. Why do you have animals that you cannot feed and you have to go to other people’s land and farm and you say that is right? I don’t think it is right.”
He explained that, as part of the efforts to kick-start the ranching programme, the Federal Government disbursed N6.2 billion for the project.
Masari added, “We already have started. The Federal Government has given us N6.2 billion and as a state government, we are also investing N6.2 billion. The objective is to have Fulanis stay in one place.”
The Governor’s comment comes four months after the Southern Governors Forum announced a ban on open grazing of cattle across states in the region.
Newsmen recall Aminu Masari, who had earlier in May 2021, while briefing newsmen as part of activities marking his second term in office, argued that necessary infrastructure on livestock farming should be provided in states for ranching as against open grazing.
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