Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, has signed into law a bill to prohibit open rearing and grazing and provide for the establishment of ranches in the state.
Gov Emmanuel, after assenting to the bill, said the new law is a no respecter of persons, irrespective of status.
With the signing of the bill into law, Akwa Ibom now joined Rivers, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti, Abia, Lagos and Enugu as states with anti-open grazing legislation. It is the eighth state in southern Nigeria to enact the law.
The bill was passed into law by the state House of Assembly yesterday (Tuesday).
Signing the bill into law on Wednesday at the state Council Chambers, the governor vowed to ensure that henceforth anyone whose livestock strays into another person’s farm or property, no matter how highly placed, would face the full weight of the new anti-open livestock grazing law of Akwa Ibom State.
According to the governor, it would be unnecessary for anyone found culpable to attempt to use his power or influence, as the law will be fully invoked to ensure that justice is served.
“The law will be used against you, irrespective of who you are, so make sure you create ranches to take care of your livestock.
” It is very painful for a farmer to wake and discover that his crops that he had toiled for several months, have been destroyed by your cattles.
“Just as you are rearing your animals to make profits, the farmer is also aiming for profits and as such you should not come and destroy his own business with yours.
“Once you are caught, such animals would be confiscated and the fine would add to the revenue of the state government, and shall also be used to settle the loss of the farmer,” Emmanuel said.
The signing was witnessed by the State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Aniekan Bassey and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom (SAN).
