Bayelsa assembly rejects grazing reserves bill

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has rejected a bill before the National Assembly for the establishment of grazing reserves in states for herdsmen across the country.

The members of the state assembly were said to have unanimously rejected the bill at a plenary.

The development reportedly followed a motion moved by a member representing Ogbia Constituency 1, Dr. Mitema Obordor.

The state lawmakers therefore called on the National Assembly to urgently discard the bill due to its unpopularity among Nigerians.

Obordor, in the motion, raised the alarm over allegations of unlawful encroachment, destruction of crops and farmlands in some parts of the state by herdsmen.

He mentioned some of the communities having issues with herdsmen as Agudama-Epie, Okutukutu, Gbarain, Tombia, Amassoma, Elebele, Otuasega and some areas in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama.

He lamented some of the nefarious activities of herdsmen such as alleged massacre of innocent persons and raping of women in Benue, Ekiti and Enugu states.

Obordor noted that herdsmen, had by their acts, exhibited impunity, lawlessness and threats to security.

The lawmaker stated that the motion was moved “bearing in mind the peculiar nature of the riverside communities. The development has left our people to manage the remaining upland portion for farm settlement and production of food for livelihood.”

He noted that his motion also took into cognisance the resolutions adopted at the recent Inter-Parliamentary Session of the South-South and South-East zones held recently in Imo State.

Obodor stated that it was dangerous to allow uncontrolled movements of cows, stressing that even though the country needed to diversify to agriculture, it should not be carried out at the detriment of lives and property.

The lawmakers adopted Obordor’s motion and resolved to “prohibit stray animals and grazing of cattle from one location to another through farmlands, thereby causing damage, health hazards, obstruction of vehicles and human traffic.”