Edo Assembly Passes Anti-Open Grazing Bill

TEN of the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly, led by Marcus Onobun, yesterday passed the executive bill for a law prohibiting open grazing of cattle and regulate other livestock in the state.

The motion to dissolve the House into committee of the whole was moved by Deputy Speaker Roland Asoro and seconded by the representative of Esan North East Constituency One, Francis Okiye.

The bill was considered clause by clause, while the lawmakers passed the relevant sections, with amendments to sections 5 (7) and 5 (8).

The amendment to Section 5 (7) read: “That a ranch committee to be constituted by the governor shall determine the size of the land suitable for ranching, in conjunction with the community where the ranch is proposed.”

Section 5 (8) was also amended to read: “That the committee shall control the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities,” while Section 8 prohibited open grazing in Edo State, with Section 9 (1) empowering the governor to designate a land for ranching in Edo.”

Section 9 (2) in the bill stated that an owner of a land should apply to the committee, in writing, of his/her intention to operate a ranch with his/her land.

Onobun directed the Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to give the bill its third reading and forward clean copies to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.