The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, explained the rationale behind the ban on open grazing by the forum.
Akeredolu, who presided over the Asaba meeting of the governors on Wednesday, while speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, insisted that the decision is not new, as most states already have laws against open grazing.
Akeredolu said: “It is not an entirely new issue; most of the governors have placed a ban on open grazing in their states before the meeting. Most of the states have passed laws on open grazing. Virtually all of us have passed that law.
“We felt that this open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers. Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry.
“In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt.”
According to the Ondo State Governor, the Federal Government needed to throw its weight behind state governments that wanted to set up ranches, adding that this would benefit the herders who were exposed to dangers as they roamed with their cattle.
He added: “At the meeting, we referred to what Governor (Abdullahi) Ganduje said. It was clear that he is also against open grazing. He says it does not augur well and the herders also do not benefit from it. There is no development, they are exposed to dangers.”
