ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Executive bill to ban open grazing of livestock in Bayelsa State has passed first and second reading on the floor of the state House of Assembly.
The executive bill, which is titled ‘Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021’, is sponsored by the Leader of the House, Monday Bubou-Obolo.
Bubou-Obolo, a former Speaker of the Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, said the bill became necessary due to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.
He rationalised that when passed into law it would establish a committee that would be solely responsible for the control of livestock business in the state.
Bubou-Obolo also said: “The bill also provides preconditions such as licence for livestock business, prohibits of open grazing and prescribes punishment for defaulters.”
Many members of the 24-member assembly, who took turns to speak in support of the bill, were unanimous in their submissions that the bill was timely and needful in Bayelsa.
The Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, committed the bill to the Assembly joint committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Environment, mandating it to report back in two weeks.