The Ekiti State Government, which passed a bill recently outlawing herdsmen grazing their cattle on the streets in the state. According to the bill which has been signed into law, any violator would be jailed for six-years. The Ekiti State House of Assembly penultimate

Thursday passed the Bill which aim is to regulate public grazing in the state. Before the bill became law, submissions of the report of the Joint Committees on Agriculture and Environment by, Mr. Ayodele Fajemilehin, to the Committee of the Whole House was considered and approved in plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Kola Oluwawole. According to the House, the law would now reduce the incessant clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in the state. It is now a crime for any cattle, sheep and goat to graze on undesignated lands in Ekiti State.

The new law tagged, “Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016 Law”, however further stipulates that, “The Governor shall by an order designate land in each of 16 local government areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants may be permitted to graze”. Accordingly, “no person shall cause or permit any cow, oxen, sheep as well as goat under his or her control to graze on any land in which the Governor has not designated as ranches”.

The law also forbids the movement of cattle by herdsmen and owners of goats in Ekiti State after 6.00pm”. It further contained sections which specified that: “No cattle or other rumi¬nants, shall by any means, move in the night; movement shall be between 7am and 6pm”.

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose said that any herdsman caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law accordingly. The signing of the law was read to the congregation of all traditional chiefs and rulers in Ekiti by Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole last Monday.

The chiefs were invited by the Governor for the meeting at the Osuntokun hall of the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital. According to Oluwawole, the state government was already working with local government officials to apportion land for grazing to all local government authorities in the state.

He also gave the highlights of the anti-grazing law as: “Grazing activities must be from 7am to 6pm on daily basis. The gov­ernment shall allot certain portion of land to each local governments for grazing. Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.

Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism. Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to government cattle ranch at Erifun in Iworoko community. Any farm products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman shall be estimated by agri­cultural officer and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit. Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine”.

Governor Fayose who signed the bill into law before the congregation of all the traditional chiefs and rulers, said that the purpose of meeting with them was the importance of interfacing with the traditional chiefs on security issues in the state, development of the state, and anti-grazing law among others. He stated that he recognized the need for his government to work with the chiefs to give valuable information on activities of those who plunder state resources such as trees , farmlands and others.

Speaking about the anti-grazing law, he said: “My government took the bill to the House a

The gov­ernment shall allot certain portion of land to each local governments for grazing. Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.

Accordingly, “no person shall cause or permit any cow, oxen, sheep as well as goat under his or her control to graze on any land in which the Governor has not designated as ranches”.

DropShot:
I thought the A$$hole was criminalizing grazing in Ekiti!

Where are his fellow jesters on Nairaland who masturbated on that jamboree of signing the bill into law?

With Fayose as a governor, no one needs a comedian again in that state!

DropShot:
I thought the A$$hole was criminalizing grazing in Ekiti!

Where are his fellow jesters on Nairaland who masturbated on that jamboree of signing the bill into law?

With Fayose as a governor, no one needs a comedian again in that state!

DropShot:
I thought the A$$hole was criminalizing grazing in Ekiti!

Where are his fellow jesters on Nairaland who masturbated on that jamboree of signing the bill into law?

With Fayose as a governor, no one needs a comedian again in that state!

modath:


Ranches or open grazing land, Fayose should clarify fir the sake of his deluded supporters club....



He seems to be doing a double speak....

gigabyte13:


If na you, you no go change mind? When you sign into law criminalising herdsmen today and the next day, you saw them right in front of your state assembly complex. That alone is enough for him to reset his medulla.

bejeiodus:
I don't think so. He seems to use both terms interchangeably. I think it is going to be an open grazing land. Fayose may be a man who craves for trouble, but he is so right with his actions.

The government shall allot certain portion of land to each local governments for grazing.

kenny987:


He never criminalised grazing in the state. You failed to comprehend the obvious n rather chose to input or believe whatever u wanted. This provision to map out specific areas was part of the bill that was signed into law, it isn't a sudden afterthought.

Basically, d point is no person can ban anyone from engaging in lawful business but even lawful businesss must be regulated to ensure that the overriding duty of a government to protect life n property is achieved. The state has a government and that government owes its people d responsibility to do all within its power to ensure their protection n d preservation of their heritage. No group of persons n criminals are allowed to attack, kidnap n kill at will because of grazing n cattle, no!

ShootToKill:
".....The Governor shall by an order designate land in each of 16 local government areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants MAY be permitted to graze."


Zombies should read well and concentrate on the word "MAY". It is conditional, ONLY if the fulani herdsmen behave themselves.

kenny987:


He never criminalised grazing in the state. You failed to comprehend the obvious n rather chose to input or believe whatever u wanted. This provision to map out specific areas was part of the bill that was signed into law, it isn't a sudden afterthought.

Basically, d point is no person can ban anyone from engaging in lawful business but even lawful businesss must be regulated to ensure that the overriding duty of a government to protect life n property is achieved. The state has a government and that government owes its people d responsibility to do all within its power to ensure their protection n d preservation of their heritage. No group of persons n criminals are allowed to attack, kidnap n kill at will because of grazing n cattle, no!

seunmsg:


Why is he using both ranching and open grazing interchangeably? The law is supposed to be clear and without ambiguity considering the noise he made before and after signing it.

What is the difference between the provision that “The Governor shall by an order designate land in each of 16 local government areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants may be permitted to graze” and the proposal by the federal government to designate some areas all over the country as grazing reserves? Nigerians, mostly from the southern part opposed the presidents proposal vehemently, somehow, Fayose has given legal backing to the presidents proposal and nobody is complaining.