National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill Proposes Jail Term for Defaulters
advocate.ngJun 15, 2024 5:08 PM

The National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill, 2024, which has passed the second reading in the Senate, proposes a five-year jail term and a N50,000 fine for defaulters if it becomes an act of parliament.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam of the APC from Benue North West, aims to establish ranches for herders in their states of origin, replacing the current practice of open grazing to address the issue of herder/farmer clashes in Nigeria.

If enacted, the National Ranches Commission would be responsible for managing, preserving, and controlling ranches nationwide. The bill faced opposition from Northern senators but eventually passed the second reading on June 5, 2024.

Part 1V, Section 23 (1) of the bill states that anyone who contravenes any provisions of the Act or regulations made under it shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000 or imprisonment for five years, or both.

Part 1V, Section 22 (1-7) lists actions that would result in imprisonment, including alienating any rights affecting land constituted as National Ranches, making improvements without approval, encroaching on National Ranches, bush burning, hunting, using chemicals, felling trees, destroying the ecosystem, and allowing livestock to wander, roam, move, or graze outside National Ranches.

The bill is intended to regulate the management of ranches and promote a more sustainable and peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in Nigeria.

Say aboki dey hear word?

If this is implemented and enforced to the letters, it would help in curbing the farmers-Herders crises. But these herders no get ears I swear

"The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam of the APC from Benue North West, aims to establish ranches for herders in their states of origin..."

"If enacted, the National Ranches Commission would be responsible for managing, preserving, and controlling ranches nationwide..."

Why the contradiction ? Is it the states of origin of the herdsmen which majority of Nigerians especially the sane ones want or is it a style to bring Ruga through the backyard of ALL OVER NIGERIA ?

They should make it N5m, the N50k is just too small for the defaulters

Until we see the clauses in the bill. Na so the grazing route was so beautiful until some of the clauses were exposed.

As for me, anything National Ranching Commission is fraud. Anyone that is in the business of cow rearing should buy land or rent a land, build a ranch and do his business without disturbing the public.

Alright

It should be implemented without fear or favour, I remained resolute that cattle is a personal business and as such stay your lane and do your business or buy a plot of land for ranching

Carazon:
Until we see the clauses in the bill. Na so the grazing route was so beautiful until some of the clauses were exposed.

As for me, anything National Ranching Commission is fraud. Anyone that is in the business of cow rearing should buy land or rent a land, build a ranch and do his business without disturbing the public.

I agree. Let the individual states manage their ranches. Why should there be a National Ranching commission? Is the federal government not burdened enough? Please let that regional bill come quick. I’m tired of these people.

Zooposki:


I agree. Let the individual states manage their ranches. Why should there be a National Ranching commission? Is the federal government not burdened enough? Please let that regional bill come quick. I’m tired of these people.

National ranching commission is ok because this cattle and herdsmen issue is seriously causing food crisis in Nigeria. Most farmers no longer go to the farm because of fear of getting killed by herdsmen.
I support a bill like this as long as it fair and OK. The only issue I have is where it proposes that a herdsmen has to return to their state of origin and establish ranch. I believe they should buy land and establish their ranch wherever they can buy land and do their business

lastmessenger:
National ranching commission is ok because this cattle and herdsmen issue is seriously causing food crisis in Nigeria. Most farmers no longer go to the farm because of fear of getting killed by herdsmen.
I support a bill like this as long as it fair and OK. The only issue I have is where it proposes that a herdsmen has to return to their state of origin and establish ranch. I believe they should buy land and establish their ranch wherever they can buy land and do their business

No state wants Arewa/Fulanis ranching in their region.

lastmessenger:
National ranching commission is ok because this cattle and herdsmen issue is seriously causing food crisis in Nigeria. Most farmers no longer go to the farm because of fear of getting killed by herdsmen.
I support a bill like this as long as it fair and OK. The only issue I have is where it proposes that a herdsmen has to return to their state of origin and establish ranch. I believe they should buy land and establish their ranch wherever they can buy land and do their business

Open grazing should be banned and become a crime in the whole of Nigeria, there's no need for any commission on that.

I too don't support to the idea of herdsmen returning to their individual states. They've the right to buy a land and build a ranch for their business. Any commission on this, is a big fraud

Carazon:


Open grazing should be banned and become a crime in the whole of Nigeria, there's no need for any commission on that.

I too don't support to the idea of herdsmen returning to their individual states. They've the right to buy a land and build a ranch for their business. Any commission on this, is a big fraud

the challenge is that communities may not want to sell land to strangers for ranging purposes because that will generate another round of wahala.

COMRADES, this is a welcome development

Carazon:


Open grazing should be banned and become a crime in the whole of Nigeria, there's no need for any commission on that.

I too don't support to the idea of herdsmen returning to their individual states. They've the right to buy a land and build a ranch for their business. Any commission on this, is a big fraud

So those ranches in other states can later be used as launching pads for terrorists attacks. Una try. Oga, go back to your state to do your ranching biz.

What does the bill say about multiple times offender? Such offender should go to jail for a long time without option of a fine

Does fulaniherdsmen respects and obeys nigeria's laws? Here in delta there's a grazing law in place but fulaniherdsmen still roam around with their cattles destroying farmlands and even killing and raping farmers until state police is instituted I don't see the fulaniherdsmen menace coming to an end anytime soon. Those guys are taking advantage of the current lopsided structure of nigeria to do what they are currently doing all over nigeria

slivertongue:


the challenge is that communities may not want to sell land to strangers for ranging purposes because that will generate another round of wahala.

Then, they can go where there is a willing seller

lexylaw09:
National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill Proposes Jail Term for Defaulters
advocate.ngJun 15, 2024 5:08 PM

The National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill, 2024, which has passed the second reading in the Senate, proposes a five-year jail term and a N50,000 fine for defaulters if it becomes an act of parliament.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam of the APC from Benue North West, aims to establish ranches for herders in their states of origin, replacing the current practice of open grazing to address the issue of herder/farmer clashes in Nigeria.

If enacted, the National Ranches Commission would be responsible for managing, preserving, and controlling ranches nationwide. The bill faced opposition from Northern senators but eventually passed the second reading on June 5, 2024.

Part 1V, Section 23 (1) of the bill states that anyone who contravenes any provisions of the Act or regulations made under it shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000 or imprisonment for five years, or both.

Part 1V, Section 22 (1-7) lists actions that would result in imprisonment, including alienating any rights affecting land constituted as National Ranches, making improvements without approval, encroaching on National Ranches, bush burning, hunting, using chemicals, felling trees, destroying the ecosystem, and allowing livestock to wander, roam, move, or graze outside National Ranches.

The bill is intended to regulate the management of ranches and promote a more sustainable and peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in Nigeria.

The only good thing about this bill is that it allays the fears of local communities that foreign herders would be brought to forcefully takeover their land under the guise of “ranching” as it was previously plotted by Buhari and Miyeti Allah Ruga bill. Since ranches will be provided for pastoralists in their own states.

The idea of arming herders to take cattle from Niger Republic to Iseyin and kill all the farmers enroute has brought the current high cost of food and hunger in Nigeria. Not to mention that it ruined the hitherto peaceful relationship of farming communities with the pastoralists.

Carazon:


Then, they can go where there is a willing seller

yeah! There are willing sellers, lease and free land offers but the herders seem to want some places for free thus the constant crisis. They practically got free lands in some places and since then those people have not known peace moreover those advocating for land today ain't herders known to Nigerians but settlers from other countries hiding under the guise of herders to invade lands belonging to indigenous people. But if everything goes well the indigenous people will offer land to them do their business.

FG will soon take over the management of primary schools from the state and LGs, since they're now so jobless that it's everything they want to dabble into.

You can call it self hate but the truth is that most black Africans have a fundamental issue bordering growth, development and peaceful coexistence.

Singapore had this same issue with Indian herders and the rest of the country. One day, Lee Kuan Yew got report that a doctor going to work was killed by a herd of cows.

The next day, he gave an order that cows be vacated from streets and pathways in 4 months. Ranch or your cow will be confiscated and used for protein for the less privileged.

Four months later, hundreds of cows were confiscated and given to the less privileged.

In the fifth month, no single cow in the streets of Singapore.

Today, they are some of the best ranchers in the world.

This issue was solved in 5 months in Singapore. But in Nigeria, we enjoy playing around with serious issues. Years in, years out.

Tufia!

slivertongue:


yeah! There are willing sellers, lease and free land offers but the herders seem to want some places for free thus the constant crisis. They practically got free lands in some places and since then those people have not known peace moreover those advocating for land today ain't herders known to Nigerians but settlers from other countries hiding under the guise of herders to invade lands belonging to indigenous people. But if everything goes well the indigenous people will offer land to them do their business.

You're right.

Nuzo1:
You can call it self hate but the truth is that most black Africans have a fundamental issue bordering growth, development and peaceful coexistence.

Singapore had this same issue with Indian herders and the rest of the country. One day, Lee Kuan Yew got report that a doctor going to work was killed by a herd of cows.

The next day, he gave an order that cows be vacated from streets and pathways in 4 months. Ranch or your cow will be confiscated and used for protein for the less privileged.

Four months later, hundreds of cows were confiscated and given to the less privileged.

In the fifth month, no single cow in the streets of Singapore.

Today, they are some of the best ranchers in the world.

This issue was solved in 5 months in Singapore. But in Nigeria, we enjoy playing around with serious issues. Years in, years out.

Tufia!

You dey mind them? Instead of criminalizing open grazing, they were there debating rubbish.

What is wrong with RUGA? What is wrong with each state of the federation having expanses of land that anyone can rent from the government to raise their cow?
What is wrong with states that have borders with the Sambisa forest converting the same to grazing areas for anyone interested in animal farming?
The farmer-herder problem is a peculiar problem in Nigeria and should not be politicized.
An average Nigerian can not think independently but only follows what their religious leaders and politicians tell them.

MASTAkiLLAh:
"The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam of the APC from Benue North West, aims to establish ranches for herders in their states of origin..."

"If enacted, the National Ranches Commission would be responsible for managing, preserving, and controlling ranches nationwide..."

Why the contradiction ? Is it the states of origin of the herdsmen which majority of Nigerians especially the sane ones want or is it a style to bring Ruga through the backyard of ALL OVER NIGERIA ?

pedel:
What is wrong with RUGA? What is wrong with each state of the federation having expanses of land that anyone can rent from the government to raise their cow?
What is wrong with states that have borders with the Sambisa forest converting the same to grazing areas for anyone interested in animal farming?
The farmer-herder problem is a peculiar problem in Nigeria and should not be politicized.
An average Nigerian can not think independently but only follows what their religious leaders and politicians tell them.

your first few questions will make one doubt if you've been in Nigeria during the past eight years plus, your last paragraph is totally uncalled for but knowing your demographic, I don't blame you. I just want you to know that you have no monopoly over jam talking.
If you don't know what ruga entails in today's Nigeria then, I'm sorry for you. If you don't know the intricate details of why the Fulani who mostly aren't Nigerians want ruga by all means instead of using their own funds to rent or buy land then I'm also sorry for you. So dont come here sounding so sanctimonious with your high faluting airs , I am not interested in that. Those who know what I'm talking about have gotten the message, you're just canon fodder in the scheme of things

Why can't you explain what is wrong with Ruga?
What do you know about crisis management?
The herder/farmer crisis requires thinking outside the box.
The state governments were asked to provide land for anyone involved in cow rearing to rent ranches.
The politicians and the uninformed public kicked against the idea.
Those cows you see roaming around in the East, West, and South belongs to the rich class in those geolocation; they only employed the Fulanis to care for them.
Moreover, if you are afraid of the Fulanis taking over your state, its too late, because every towns and cities in Nigeria already have a location filled with the Hausas. That's where you change your currency.
If I were Buhari I would have issued an executive order and use the federal lands in every states for ranches. But he was afraid of loosing the second term.
The same subsidy removal that was politicized during Jonathan is in force now under Tinubu.
It's unfortunate when people like yourself with some education can't enlighten misguided people.
For your information I have 165 cows in Saki, Oyo state and they are being managed by an Hausa family. We have a fenced facility and sometimes they are taken outside to eat grass in a nearby public school.

MASTAkiLLAh:
your first few questions will make one doubt if you've been in Nigeria during the past eight years plus, your last paragraph is totally uncalled for but knowing your demographic, I don't blame you. I just want you to know that you have no monopoly over jam talking.
If you don't know what ruga entails in today's Nigeria then, I'm sorry for you. If you don't know the intricate details of why the Fulani who mostly aren't Nigerians want ruga by all means instead of using their own funds to rent or buy land then I'm also sorry for you. So dont come here sounding so sanctimonious with your high faluting airs , I am not interested in that. Those who know what I'm talking about have gotten the message, you're just canon fodder in the scheme of things