Ogun Assembly prescribes three years jail term for open grazing offenders

THE Ogun State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed into law a bill banning open grazing in the state, and put offenders at the risk of three years jail term.

This is coming few days after the southern governors, during their last meeting in Lagos, fixed September as deadline for open grazing practice, a development, which has been subject of controversy.

The bill, according to the Assembly, would address incessant clashes between herders and farmers in Ogun State, which often lead to loss of lives and property.

The title of the bill reads “HB No. 045/ OG/ 2021- A Law to Regulate Animal Grazing, Establishment of Cattle Ranches in Designated Grazing Areas of Ogun State and for other Matters incidental thereto and connected therewith.”

The bill scaled the third reading and final passage following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Agriculture by Ganiyu Oyedeji at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.

Oyedeji thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of the report, seconded by Olusola Adams and supported by other lawmakers through a voice- vote.

The legal framework was later read and adopted clause- by- clause.

Thereafter, the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, moved the motion for the third reading and was seconded by Wahab Haruna.

The Clerk of the House and Head of Legislative Services, Deji Adeyemo, took the third reading of the bill before the lawmakers.

Responding, the Speaker directed that the Clerk should prepare a clean copy of the bill for Governor Dapo Abiodun’s assent.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde ( left); former Osun State Governor and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) South- West Zone Reconciliation Committee, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Secretary, Semiu Kukoyi; Chief Saka Balogun and former Deputy Governor, Ondo State, Omolade Oluwateru, during presentation of the committee’s report to Makinde in Ibadan… yesterday.