An explanation has been provided by rights activist, Madubuachi Idam, on why President Bola Tinubu should not give his approval to the Bill that aims to ban open grazing in Nigeria, particularly if it involves setting up ranches using public funds.
Idam emphasized that herders are responsible for 60% of the security challenges in Nigeria.
Earlier this week, the Senate passed the Bill for an Act prohibiting open grazing and promoting the establishment of ranches after a thorough review.
The lawmakers engaged in a somewhat heated debate before the Bill passed its second reading.
The establishment of ranches, as outlined in the Bill, is viewed as a solution to the recurring violent clashes between settled farmers and nomadic herders in Nigeria.
Additionally, the Nigerian legislative body proposed a national conference on the issue, along with holding a public hearing to devise a comprehensive resolution.
The motion on this matter was brought forward by Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West.
In his argument during the debate, the lawmaker posited that the challenges stemming from farmer-herder conflicts could be effectively addressed through legislative intervention, specifically by banning open grazing in Nigeria.
However, in an interview with NewsNow, Idam expressed, “The Bill to reject open grazing, which passed the second reading on the 5th of June 2024 in the Senate, is a welcome development and should be praised, particularly as herders account for more than 60% of Nigeria’s security turmoil.
“Nevertheless, Mr. President should abstain from endorsing such a Bill if it proposes the establishment of ranches with public funds unless there is ample provision for similar assistance to other forms of agriculture.
“Pastoralism in Nigeria is not government-owned; it remains a private enterprise, no different from other types of businesses run by Nigerians, and should not be given preferential treatment by the government over other private enterprises.
“Cattle rearing should not be prioritized over cassava or yam cultivation. They all deserve equal government support. National prosperity does not thrive on hypocrisy.”