Tony Okafor,Awka
In compliance with the 2021 Anti-open grazing law of the state, the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has banned movement of cattle in any part of the state, starting from September.
Soludo stated this during a meeting with members of Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee held at the Government House, Awka, the state capital, at the weekend.
Immediate past governor of the state, Willie Obiano had assented to the Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State, joining his counterparts in the southern states who had unanimously agreed to outlaw the practice, before he
Obiano had also directed the law enforcement agencies to enforce the law with immediate effect, stating, “Now that we have a law banning open grazing, the law enforcement agents have been directed to implement it.”
But this did not come to be as herdsmen continued to move about the state with their cows. No arrest had ever been announced by the law enforcement agencies in that respect.
But at the weekend, Soludo vowed that his administration would begin concerted implementation of the law by next month.
He said, “Though the law has been in existence since almost one year ago, cattle rearers keep parading certain areas in the state in contravention to the law.”
While applauding members of the Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee for their devotion to duty, the governor said although Anambra operated in social harmony with everyone, including herdsmen, they( herdsmen) must as in other businesses operate within the ambit of extant laws.
He said because his administration launched initiatives to encourage tree planting, there would be no enough land to accommodate open grazing.
Soludo pointed out that the initiative was geared towards salvaging the Anambra environment from erosion which he said was fast depleting the scarce land, informing gradual consideration for implemention of ranching as a modern way of cattle rearing because of its numerous advantages and money-making potentials.
