Gov Wike assents to law banning open grazing in Rivers

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Thursday assented to the Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Bill, including the Valued Added Tax, and three other bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The governor also assented to laws on the Child’s Rights Amendment Law, Residents Registration Agency Law, and Naming and Renaming of Infrastructure Law.

Governor Wike noted that the judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has sufficiently addressed the illegality of VAT collection across states by the Federal Government via the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

Rivers State government has legally ratified the Asaba Declaration of the Southern Governors prohibiting open grazing in southern Nigeria.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a committee to facilitate imposition of grazing reserves on 25 states, which include some states in southern Nigeria.