ENUGU — Enugu State has joined the league of states in the southern region of Nigeria that has complied with the resolution of Southern Governors to pass the open grazing bill a day after the deadline; Southern Governors agreed in Lagos to domesticate the bill in states on or before 1st day of September 2021.
On Thursday 2nd September, the bill for a law to prohibit open grazing and regulate cattle ranching and for connected matters was passed into law in the Hallowed chambers of the Enugu State House of Assembly; the bill was passed two days after the public hearing.
On receiving the report on the public hearing presented by Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze, Chairman of the Joint Committee, the House members resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report; after which the bill scaled through 3rd reading and was passed.
Reacting to the position of the Miyetti Allah asking for 30 days to study the bill, the Leader Enugu State House of Assembly, Ikechukwu Ezeugwu explained that laws are dynamic and a six month transitional provision is captured in the bill to allow for exigencies.
He further revealed that the bill has only 36 sections in 16 pages and not targeted at any group but made in fairness for peaceful coexistence of all.
Section 33 reads, “A herder shall within six (6) months of the commencement of this law establish a ranch and move the livestock under his control to the ranch”.
The bill also assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry the responsibility of registering herders and issuing ranch permit;
Section 8 subsection 1 and 3 reads, “A herder shall submit himself for registration to the Ministry with letter of recommendation from the Local Government of his settlement and shall pay the fee specified in the schedule 1 to this law”.
“Every registered herder shall be issued an identification card and shall wear such card at all times.”
The bill amongst others prohibits a minor from grazing, rearing or herding of livestock except under the supervision of an adult; every ranch must be fenced.
Fulfilling the long awaited expectations of the masses, the bill was passed and the law will be cited as the Enugu State Prohibition of Open Grazing and Regulation of Cattle Ranching Law and shall come into force on the day the Governor of Enugu state ascents to it.
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