Stop anti-open grazing law in Benue state - Fulani herdsmen tell FG

macfranc007 November 05, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- The zonal chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Danladi Ciroma, says the Benue anti-open grazing law was implemented without due consultation with herdsmen

- He appeals to the federal government, NASS and the international community to urgently prevail on the state government to reconsider the law for peace and unity in the area

- Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state declares that nobody would be spared in the enforcement of anti-grazing law in the state

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on federal government, National Assembly (NASS) and international community to intervene in the anti-open grazing law operating in Benue state.

The chairman of the association, Danladi Ciroma, made the call on Sunday, November 5, at a news conference in Lafia.

He said the law was implemented without due consultation with herdsmen in the state, The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

He added that: "Our people were not educated on modern method of rearing cattle so that when provision for ranching was being made, government would take into consideration the total number of cattle in the state.

“Due to lack of consultation, our people lack the technical know-how to conduct cattle ranching because even if we accept to practice it, we lack the needed expertise.

“We do not know the grass we need to grow and how it is grown, where to get it and how to preserve it for the cattle.”

He explained that countries like Kenya that successfully implemented ranching system spent more than five years educating herdsmen and provided the much-needed facilities before it was implemented.

Ciroma said apart from those who were the direct beneficiaries of ranches, animal health experts needed to be trained, while clinics and abattoirs, among other things, were supposed to be provided.

He added that the state did not take any step before enacting the law.

The zonal chairman, therefore, appealed to federal government, NASS and the international community to urgently prevail on the state government to reconsider the law for peace and unity in the area.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has declared that nobody would be spared in the enforcement of anti-grazing law in the state.

The Nation reports that the grazing law took effect from Wednesday, November 1 some months after the governor assented to it.

NAIJ.com gathered that Ortom recently called on writers to partner with his government on advocacy for ranches.

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