By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a bill prohibiting open-grazing in the state.
This was sequel to the presentation of the report on the bill by the House Committee on Agriculture by the sponsor, Ganiyu Oyedeji, on Thursday, July 8, 2021.
Recall that Southern Governors, in its meeting held in Lagos days back, gave a September deadline for all state assemblies in the region to pass anti-grazing laws in their respective states.
Entitled ‘Animal Grazing Regulation and Cattle Ranch Establishment Law, 2020,’ it is believed to be part of efforts to address the incessant clashes between herders and farmers in the state.
The long title of the bill is “HB No. 045/OG/2021- A Law to Regulate Animal Grazing, Establishment of Cattles Ranches in Designated Grazing Areas of Ogun State and for other matters incidental thereto and connected therewith.”
It recommends a jail term of not less than three years without the option of fine for anyone who rears, herds or grazes any livestock in any part of the state, except within the permitted ranches; or anyone who rears cattle or livestock outside the permitted ranches after the commencement of the law.
The bill also recommends that the herds of cattle or livestock under his/her control will be forfeited to the state government.
Following its passage, the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, directed that a clean copy of the bill should be transmitted to the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his assent.