Toxic request on anti-grazing bill, by ADEWALE Kupoluyi

Many Nigerians were 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by the hasty decision suggesting that anti-grazing bills, as operational in some states in the country, should be repealed.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 (retd.) had spearheaded the abrogation move, arguing that laws enacted by states prohibiting open grazing be suspended.
Dan-Ali had called for the suspension of the implementation of antigrazing 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 Benue, Ekiti and Taraba states.
Abia is working on its passage.
The implication of this is that the law seeks to end the age-long practice of nomadism, particularly, among the Fulani herders, whose activities in recent times had heightened violent clashes with farmers in many states across the country.
Already, the National Assembly had 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.
Over the few months, there had 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.
Herders’ clashes had 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 its 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 it is at variance with international protocols that established grazing routes across the Sub-Saharan Africa.
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 the reason 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.
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 herdsmenfarmers clashes had remained controversial because of the believe 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.
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 request, 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 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 interest of some people, as they had played out.
Therefore, the defence minister’s call should never be allow