Delta, Ogun sign anti-open grazing bill into law

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, has signed the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021 into law.

Okowa signed the bill — which has provisions for banning open grazing in the state — into law on Thursday.

The development comes days after the state house of assembly passed the bill.

Present at the signing of the bill were Sheriff Oborevwori, speaker of the Delta house of assembly; Christopher Ochor, deputy speaker, and other principal officers.

Speaking on the development, Okowa said the ban on open grazing will improve food security and also encourage the adoption of modern systems of rearing livestock.

“We believe that it is in the best interest of security. We believe that it is in the best interest of ensuring food security and that it will help us to ensure that we are able to cause people from across this nation, who will find themselves outside their own states inhabiting in Delta State, to live with Deltans in a peaceful and respectable manner with each other, having respect for each other,” he said in a statement.

“We believe as the Southern Governors had stated that we must start to look into other ways of ensuring that we are able to breed and that we are able to rear our cattle and other livestock in such a manner that is acceptable in modern times.

“We believe that this is something workable. Many times, it is difficult for people to embrace change, but I believe that the world all over is changing by the day and if you find that change is going to bring peace, if you find that change is going to bring development and even economic enhancement, it should truly be embraced.

“I think that it is time for our nation to depart from the old ways and to look into the future, ensuring that we do things in the best way for development.

“Today, Delta State can rightly boast that we now have a law that regulates livestock breeding, rearing and marketing and a law that also prohibits open grazing. It is one law that everyone of us in this country should truly support,. It is something that is in the best interest of us all.”

The governor also signed the Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Bill 2020 into law, which he said will contribute to the development of urban cities in the state.

In a related development, Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, has also signed the anti-open grazing bill into law.

Abiodun signed the bill into law at a security council meeting held on Thursday.

According to the governor, the bill will also make provisions for the establishment of ranches in the state.