ANAMBRA ASSEMBLY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON ANTI-OPEN GRAZING BILL
REPORTER: SCHOLAR ABAGA
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Uche Okafor, says the House will give the Anambra State Anti-Grazing Bill expeditious passage to forestall further loss of lives.
Mr. Uche Okafor gave the assurance at a one day public hearing on “a bill for a law to prohibit and abolish open and Nomadic cattle and other livestock grazing and rearing in Anambra State and to establish cattle and other livestock ranches in the state,” held at Conference Hall, Government House, Awka.
The Speaker explained that the idea of the public hearing was to harness the inputs and opinions of diverse stakeholders on the matter so that whatever law they would enact would be a product of consensus opinion of all relevant segments of the State.
He expressed confidence that the bill when passed and signed into law would stop any form of open grazing in the state and promote modern techniques in animal husbandry.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Mr. John Nwokoye, noted that the Anti-Grazing Bill was for unity, security and peaceful coexistence among residents of the state and not targeted at any group of individuals.
In his submission, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South East Zone, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, commended the House for carrying them along in the enactment of the Anti-Grazing bill.
He, however, appealed to the House to give them more time to study the bill and make their own recommendations and that when the bill would be and passed into law, they should be given time to adjust to the new law.
Also, the Commissioner for lands, Mr. Bonaventure Enemali, said his Ministry was in support of the anti-grazing bill as Anambra State did not have enough lands for such, just as the National Vice President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene condemned open grazing in its entirety.
Chief Ogene stressed that the bill could accommodate establishment of ranches for cattle rearing so that each senatorial zone in Anambra State should have one ranch.
Stakeholders that were present at the public hearing included various farmers’ groups, the MACBAN, traditional rulers, religious bodies, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Presidents-General of communities and civil society organizations in Anambra State.
