“Senate Considers Bill to Control Cattle Rearing Business Amid Farmers-Herders Crisis”
In response to the ongoing conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria, the Senate is considering a bill that would regulate and control the cattle rearing business in the country. Sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger, the proposed legislation would establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission.
“As stakeholders in the Nigeria project and elected representatives of the people, we cannot afford to look on while the country burn into ashes as a result of violence clashes between sedentary Farmers and nomadic headers. Doing so will dent leadership responsibilities duties.
The menace of farmers and headers crisis can easily be cured through a legislative therapy -Barning open greasing in Nigeria.” -Senator Titus Tartenger
The bill calls for a nationwide ban on open grazing and the establishment of ranches to address the root causes of the crisis. It specifically recommends that ranches be established in pastoralist states, while respecting the autonomy of other states without pastoralist communities.
“I want us to look at the land dues act as an impediment to this particular very wonderful bill to ensure that we can get and put to rest this matter of herders farmers clashes.” -Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe
“The cattles are all over the place you will even see them in Abuja Streets they enter people’s farmland and causing problem all over the country. This bill must be allowed to have a place. We are going to consider this bill appropriately. All states must be ready to have cattle ranch.” -Senator Sunday Karimi
While the bill has garnered support from some lawmakers who believe it could help manage the farmers/herders crisis, others have urged caution due to the controversies surrounding similar proposals in the past. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary, and Legal Matters for further review.
“Going by this bill, it’s real compound are crisis in Nigeria. Some people will close their eyes from what is going on or what led our herders to go against farmers. There are so many issues which we need to attend.” -Senator Sumaila Kawu
“This fulanis are Nigerians they do not even benefit anything from government. They do not enjoy schools, hospitals, roads or the housing programs done by government. So to just throw them away like that because they are assumed to come from state that may not have even enough water, enough grazing area. I say it is not going to work. If you want to solve this problem let’s approach it with an open mind.
Where you have enough water, enough land that can serve as cattle ranch we should be realistic enough to encourage, in fact, support the establishment of ranches in those areas. But confining them to one area will not solve the problem.” -Senator Danjuma Goje
In a related development, a bill to establish a framework for the Nigeria Gold reserve industry also passed a second reading in the Senate. Sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the bill has been referred to the Committee on Solid Minerals, Banking, Finance, and Insurance for further scrutiny.
Both bills are expected to be reviewed and reported back to the Senate within four weeks before any further action is taken.
