By Odeh Henry
The Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced the process of prohibiting open rearing and grazing of livestocks by herdsmen in the state as a bill to that effect has passed through second reading in the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The bill, which is meant to prohibit open grazing and rearing of livestocks in Oyo state was read at the plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Abiodun Fadeyi who said such a law was already operational in states like Ekiti, Benue, Taraba and Abia states in Nigeria.
When fully operational, the bill seeks to put an end to put an end to incesant farmers-herders clashes leading to destruction of lives, farms and community properties. The bill also seeks to put an end to clashes between herds owners and farmers while also protecting the environment from degradation and unwarranted pollutiins.
The Speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin while commenting on the bill said, it will make it an offence for anyone to engage in open rearing, herding and grazing of livestocks in the state outside the permitted ranches, it will also provide opportunities for private investors who may want to have their own ranches in the state.
The Minority leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape (Atiba) and Hon Hakeem Adedibu (Iwajowa) in their contributions noted that the movement of livestocks around communities and cities pose great risk to farmers in rural communities and urban dwellers, noting that it is completely unheard of in any civilized and organized society.
Other lawmakers including Hon. Jacob Bamigboye (Oriire) and Hon Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North) called for speedy passage of the bill in order to curtail rising cases of farmers/herders clashes particularly in most of the communities in Oyo state where their major source of generating income is agriculture.
While passing the bill to the House Committees on Agriculture and Security for further deliberations and scrutiny, the House also resolved that a public hearing on the bill will be conducted in other to properly and adequately sensitize all parties and stakeholders.
Other bills which passed through second reading at the plenary today include Ministry of Finance Bill,Ministry of Establishment and Training Bill,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Bill, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Bill, and Ministry of Energy Bill all 2019.
There were also the First reading of several other new bills brought before the house at its plenary today.
