Many Nigerians were
greatly disturbed by the hasty decision suggesting that anti-grazing bills, as
operational in some states in the country, should be repealed. The Minister of
Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), had spear-headed the abrogation move, arguing
that laws enacted by states prohibiting open grazing should be suspended.
Dan-Ali had called for the suspension of the implementation of anti-grazing
laws in some states while instead negotiating safe routes for herders. For the
Defence Minister, suspension of the law would reduce tension and restore peace
in the country.
The Anti-Open Grazing Law seeks to outlaw open
rearing and grazing of livestock and provides for the establishment of ranches
and livestock administration, wherever the law is operational. It is currently
being used in Already, the National Assembly and many Nigerians have decried the call. According to the Senate, the defence minister should withdraw his statement because the said laws were duly enacted in accordance with the respective state houses of assembly. The House of Representatives has also urged the Federal Government to rescind the decision that compels states to suspend ranching and open grazing law. The Reps said that, government by such action was ignoring the laws of the land in view of the fact that, governors already possess the powers over land in their states by virtue of the Land Use Act, which allows them to hold landed property in trust for the people.
In the past few months, there has been monumental tension between state
governments and cattle herders, as represented by the Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), most especially, in Benue State
that had experienced untold carnage and killings. The siege has continued to
bring about wanton murder of innocent persons and destruction of enormous
property. Since the bill was signed into law, there have been hot exchanges of
words and protracted conflicts between the Benue State
government and the association. While the group wants the state government to
drop the idea of enforcing the law, the governor insisted that there was no
going back on its implementation.
Herders’ clashes have become a recurring
decimal and national security problem in various parts of the country; premised
on rising population and less available land. Some states share more of the
hostility because of their very rich vegetation and pasture, which make the
land appealing to both farmers and herdsmen. Benue
is one of such states. No doubt, there is ample justification for the law to
stay, no matter what anybody may feel. On the other hand, the herdsmen are
resisting the implementation of the law on the grounds that the law violates
their fundamental right to freedom of movement within the country and that, the
restriction is at variance with international protocols that established
grazing routes across the Sub-Saharan Africa. They also complained that there
is not enough time for them to comply with the law, calling for more time to
comprehend the law and abide by its provisions!
The truth is that, ranching, rather than
continuing with open grazing is the enduring solution, as it allows for a more
coordinated transition from nomadism to ranching. To make this a reality, there
should be better awareness on the part of farmers on the need to jettison their
traditional practice and embrace a more acceptable option. Furthermore, there
should be access to soft loans, land, training, technical support and inputs
for the herders in order to facilitate the transition and acceptance, among
others. More importantly, the farmers should see why they need to embrace
ranching. Apart from the reduction of conflicts, the animals would tend to be
healthier; handlers would earn decent incomes; farm diseases would reduce;
herdsmen would have decent accommodation, live in peace with their neighbours,
own property and have schools for their young ones.
For emphasis, under the provisions of the law,
it is an offence for anybody to openly graze cattle and other animals. Those
engaged in the livestock production are expected to apply and obtain land from
government at the already designated places for the establishment of ranches.
Since its enactment, the law has come under fierce criticism, mostly from
Fulani herders whose open grazing activities have been a major source of
incessant bloody clashes with farmers. Rather than calling for the abrogation
of the law, the Federal Government should encourage its enforcement. Other
states should consider enacting their own versions of the open grazing
prohibition law, to be more proactive.
The issue of herdsmen-farmers clashes has remained controversial because of the
belief by many people that the herders appear to be getting preferential
treatment from the state. Not only do they carry arms without caution by the
relevant security agencies, those found committing the offences are hardly
apprehended. And when caught, they are never punished or sanctioned. Hence, the
general feeling is that herdsmen are untouchable in our country. Based on these
insinuations, the call by the defence minister could be misinterpreted to mean
an official endorsement of the illegality being unleashed on the Nigerian
state. To forestall further bloodshed and perceived bias, open grazing should
be discouraged while ranching should rather be supported and promoted. In view
of this, the minister should either withdraw his statement, or the Federal
Government should dissociate itself from the jaundiced call.
On a final note, it should be stressed that
under the political structure that we are operating in the country, which is
federalism, the Federal Government lacks the power to suspend or abrogate the
anti-grazing law, duly enacted by state governments to prohibit open grazing of
cattle in the state or any duly enacted legislation. We should be more
concerned with how to restore peace in our nation beyond any tribal, ethnic and
parochial interests of some people, as they have played out. Therefore, the
defence minister’s call should never be allowed to stand. It should not.
*Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of
Agriculture, Abeokuta .
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