Anti-open grazing bill passes second reading at Lagos assembly

The prohibition of open cattle grazing bill 2021 has passed the second reading at the Lagos state house of assembly.

Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, at the plenary on Monday, said the bill will ensure a harmonious relationship between herders and farmers in the state when passed.

He said the bill would also protect the environment of the state and the south-west.

Obasa, who described the bill as timely, suggested that it should make provision for the registration of herders and prepare them for ranching.

“Allocating parcel of land is not enough, but there should also be training for those who will go into ranching, as ranching is expensive and requires adequate preparation,” he said.

Speaking earlier on the bill, Bisi Yusuff, a member representing Alimosho 1, lamented that farmers had become afraid to visit their farms, thus causing food shortages.

Yusuff said many farmers had become indebted as they now find it difficult to pay back loans they secured.

Similarly, Kehinde Joseph, the member representing Alimosho 2, said the bill would ensure peaceful coexistence, reduce crime and help to guide the activities of herders.

On his part, David Setonji, the member representing Badagry 2, said: “There was a time we went on oversight function in a school here in Lagos.

“We were embarrassed by cattle. We had to wait for the herder to move the cattle before we embarked on our oversight function.”

He suggested a collaboration between the neighbourhood safety corps and the police in the implementation of the law when passed and assented to.