There was palpable tension in the Senate, as the bill to ban open grazing was brought to the floor of the red chamber for the second reading. There were contentious exchanges between senators, particularly those from the northwest and the north central as well as the southern part of the country. In fact, Senate president, Godswill Akpabio was temporarily drawn into it when he insisted that ‘cows do not have rights’ and Senator … sought to read an order rule that says that no Nigerian should be restricted from doing business anywhere in the country, and Akpabio asked whether that included a herder with AK 47. However, notwithstanding the rancorous debate, the bill passed second reading.
The legislative session was marked by heated debates and strong emotions, reflecting the contentious nature of the proposed law. If enacted, this bill will finally prohibit open grazing nationwide, aiming to resolve longstanding conflicts between herders and farmers.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North West senatorial district, outlines specific regulations for the establishment and management of ranches, promoting best practices and mitigating disputes between herders and farmers.
Explaining the general principles of the bill, Zam discussed the need for the proposed commission to manage, regulate, and preserve ranches across the country. He said: “The proposed National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission is for management, preservation, and control of ranches throughout Nigeria.”
The bill, however, met stiff opposition from Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe and his counterpart from Kebbi, Adamu Aliero. Both Lawmakers who were also former governors in their respective states, argued that cattle rearing and ranching activities were more in the North than in other parts of the country, reasoning that lawmaking should be for the entire country and not for a section.
Goje specifically maintained that cattle routes begin from the far north and end in Lokoja as “the route does not extend to the South”. In his contribution, Senator Hussein Babangida Uba, representing Jigawa North-West, called for extra caution in passing the bill, given its trail of controversies in the past.
Other Senators who supported the bill contended that the proposed Commission would manage the farmers/herders crisis, hence, it should be passed.
The bill was passed after it was put to voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary and Legal Matters to be reverted in four weeks. This legislative measure is designed to address the challenges and conflicts associated with cattle rearing, ensuring a more structured and sustainable approach to the industry.
