A bill seeking to outlaw open grazing of livestock has been read for the first time in the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA).
The bill with the title, “Enactment of Rivers State Public Prohibition of Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and Ranching Administration Bill 2021,” was sponsored by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The Speaker of the House, Ikwuinyi Owaji-Ibani read Governor Wike’s letter introducing the bill at plenary on Monday.
According to the document, the decision to pass the anti-grazing law in the state followed the agreement of South South Governors forum in May and June, to end the era of opening grazing all the states in the zone.
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The governor further said that southern governors had realised the need for various States’ Houses of Assembly to enact relevant laws to back up the prohibition on or before September 1, 2021.
He stated: “Pursuant to this provision, a number of Southern States have already passed the necessary framework laws against open rearing and grazing of livestock in their states.
“Against this backdrop, it is my pleasure to forward Rivers State Public Prohibition of Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and Ranching Administration Bill 2021, for consideration and enactment into law by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The bill seeks to outlaw the open rearing and grazing of livestock including cattle, throughout Rivers State and provides for the establishment and effective administration of ranching in the state and local government areas.”
Furthermore, the Governor said, the bill when passed would resolve the perennial conflict being witnessed on destruction of crops attributed to open rearing and grazing of livestock by herders, being practised across the country.
He noted that the bill was of great public interest and urged the House of Assembly to give it (bill) priority attention. The bill has passed first reading.
