Gov Ugwuanyi assents to Anti-Open Grazing Act in Enugu

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assented to the anti-open grazing act legislated by the State House of Assembly, signing the act into law.

It was highlighted that the bill is projected to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, among other purposes.

The Act is essentially anticipated to improve security, peace and mitigate incidence of conflicts between farmers and herders in the state, which has precipitated destruction of lives and property  in many parts of the country.

Meanwhile, some other states which include Bayelsa, Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Abia, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom,  have enacted the anti-grazing law after the communique of the 17 southern governors at the Asaba Declaration in May 2021.

Though there have been protests from the northern part of the country, the southern governors insist that there is no going back on the law. However, affected northern stakeholders resident in the south are not opposing the law. They are rather willing to cooperate but only asking for time, in some states, for necessary adjustments.