Soji Ajibola
The Oyo State Government has insisted on the implementation of the state anti-open grazing law.
Following a comment by Governor Seyi Makinde on the National Livestock Transformation Plan, some people had accused him of making moves to implement Ruga in the state. The governor had since denied that claim.
However, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, in a statement reiterated that Governor Makinde had no such plans as being rumoured on social media.
He said that a section of Nigerians misinterpreted the governor’s submission on the implementation of NLTP in Oyo State.
According to him, the governor only announced the desire to implement aspects of the NLTP that are compliant with the anti-open grazing law of the state, assented to on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Makinde’s reference to Oyo State’s desire to implement the NLTP refers mainly to aspects of the plan that are compliant with the anti-open grazing law of the State.
“Section 6(1-7) of the law provides the processes by which a livestock owner shall secure land for a ranch, while sections 7(1-4) stipulates the approval process by which a herder or livestock owner can secure a permit to operate the ranch.
“The law stipulates that a livestock owner shall apply in writing to the landowner or the family in possession of the land meant for ranching; the family shall forward the application to the Ministry of Agriculture, which will forward the same to the Ministry of Environment to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment.
“A report of the EIA will be forwarded to the Governor, who may grant the approval if he (finds) the report suitable.
“The Oyo State’s anti-open grazing provides punishments for open grazing and child herding, while it also provides that ranch owners must mandatorily fence their ranches.”
Adisa added that Governor Makinde had while hosting his Kwara State counterpart, Governor Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman, made it clear that the Oyo State government would only take advantage of “lateral learnings” in the livestock programme being implemented in Kwara State with a view to collaborating on security and the economic aspects.”