Speaking on the controversial request by the MACBAN, Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu on ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise TV’ said the law to ban open grazing in the state would promote healthy and harmonious living among farmers and herders.
He noted that the law was not targeted at any section of the society but to provide a healthy living among stakeholders in the farming and cattle rearing business.
Aniagwu said that the constant clashes between farmers and herders in the country necessitated the call for legislation to ban open grazing, especially in Southern Nigeria.
He blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for not providing adequate leadership in resolving the crisis adding that the State House of Assembly had conducted a Public hearing on the Bill before going on recess.
Assuring that the Bill for Delta would be passed as soon as the Assembly returns from their annual recess, Aniagwu stated, “Let’s take away the politics and the primordial sentiments from the crisis. I do not blame these individuals who are opposed to the ban on open grazing.
“I blame the President because I assume that he should be able to understand. Those who advise him, have a clearer picture of what obtains in advanced societies. The crop is the source of livelihood of the farmer even as the cattle are also the source of livelihood of the herder.
“How do you strike a balance if the source of the livelihood of the herder now progresses to a level where it subjects the farmer to abject poverty on account of the regular trampling on the farms, produce and crops of this farmer which of course has been the centre of the clashes between these two very important sectors of our economy.”
He said the President had not provided leadership in resolving the crisis adding that the proposed bill has a proposal for 5,000 hectares of land designated for regulated or restricted grazing and ranching in every local government area.
“Here in Delta, we are very determined to regulate it not to only ban grazing in open areas but to promote healthy living between the owners of the livestock and of course those of us who are either into consumption, marketing, breeding or rearing”, he stressed.