Edo assembly passes law to prohibit open grazing of cattle

A bill for a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle and regulate other livestock has been passed in Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Deputy Speaker, Roland Asoro, moved the motion to dissolve the house into a committee of the whole and seconded by the member representing PDP (Esan North-East 1), Francis Okiye.

Considering the bill clause by clause at the committee of the whole, the lawmakers passed relevant sections of the bill with amendments to sections 5(7) and 5(8).

The amendment to section 5 (7) now reads: ”A ranch committee to be constituted by the governor shall determine the size of the land suitable for ranching in conjunction with the community where the ranch is proposed”.

Section 5 (8) was also amended to read that: ”The committee shall control the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities”, while Section 8, however, prohibits open grazing in the state.

According to the bill, Section 9(1) empowered the state governor to designate land for ranching.

Also, Section 9(2) stated that an owner of land shall apply to the committee in writing of his intention to operate a ranch within his land.