Enugu state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has signed the anti-open grazing bill into law, at the state’s Government House.
Enugu state joins the growing number of southern states who are set to criminalise open grazing in the region.
The passage of the bill is in line with the decision of the 17 Southern Governors.
The decision was made due to the incessant wanton attacks by armed Fulani Herdsmen on innocent civilians across the south.
The bill signed by Governor Ugwuanyi, which is for a law prohibiting open grazing, regulating cattle ranching, and for connected purposes, was recently passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
The Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, had explained after the passage of the bill, that it would be cited as the “Prohibition of Open Grazing and Cattle Ranching Law of Enugu State,” after the governor’s assent.
Gov. Ugwuanyi’s assent to this bill is expected to improve security and peace in the State.
At the last meeting of the governors in Lagos State, they had set September deadline for the ban on open-grazing.
Earlier this month, the Ondo State House of Assembly passed the bill which Governor Rotimi Akeredolu immediately signed into law.
Rivers State House of Assembly also passed the bill mid-August, expressing certainty that it would put an end to the prolonged crisis emanating from open rearing of cattle.
The bill is still at different stages in Delta, Cross River and Ekiti States Houses of Assembly.
In some of the States in the Southeast, including, Abia and Ebonyi States, the governments are claiming they already had similar laws in place.
In the case of Imo, Governor Hope Uzodinma has made it clear that the State is monitoring the development, even as he said that herders and host communities in the State live harmoniously.
Meanwhile, the Southern Governors will continue their meeting in Enugu tomorrow, Thursday, and the open-grazing ban is expected to form one of the issues for discussion.
