The governor of Anambra, Chukwuma Soludo, has been urged by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to temporarily lift the state’s restriction on cattle travel on foot.
Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, the head of MACBAN’s Southeast region, made the appeal on Monday in Awka, Anambra State.
He said that the prohibition would negatively affect them and their livelihood because it was too abrupt and many cattle rearers had no other source of income.
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The fact that MACBAN members had been coexisting peacefully in the state was one of the arguments Sidikki cited to support his case.
Speaking in a chat with The Nation, he said; “Majority of us (Fulanis), don’t know any other business more than rearing of cattles in this World.
“Some of us were born and bred in this rearing of cattle business here in Anambra state. We have no other place to go.
“The herders are aware that the state governor has flagged off massive tree planting exercise in the 181 communities as part of measures to control the spread of gully erosion in the state.
“And as law abiding citizens, we have cautioned all our members and equally urged them to protect the trees in their various host communities.
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“Our members have remained committed to peaceful coexistence with their host communities in the State and the Southeast geopolitical zone at large.
“We therefore, call on concerned stakeholders including the media to help us beg the governor, if possible, to revisit his decision on the ban”.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the governor of Anambra State had, around two weeks prior, banned the movement of cattle throughout the entire state on foot.
When meeting with members of the Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee at the Government House in Awka, Soludo made that announcement. He claimed that the ban was in accordance with the State’s 2021 anti-open grazing law.
According to him, the restriction complies with the State’s 2021 anti-open grazing law, and enforcement will start in September 2022.
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According to him: “Now that we have a law banning open grazing, the law enforcement agents have been directed to implement it.
“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.”
The former governor Willie Obiano signed a law prohibiting open grazing in Anambra, but it was never put into effect.
Obiano assented the Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State in 2021.
The legislation is the same one that Soludo has now demonstrated his willingness to uphold.
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