By: Ifeanyi Okonkwo,
Members of the Anambra State House of Assembly has on September 30th held a public hearing on ‘Open Grazing of Cattle and Livestock Prohibition and Ranches Establishment in Anambra state’.
Hon. John Nwokoye, Member representing Awka North Constituency at Anambra State House of Assembly while speaking said as the House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, it is a privilege to lead the public hearing. He emphasized that the public hearing is necessitated to sample opinion from stakeholders before the bill, which has scaled through second reading, will be pass into law.
According to the House Committee Chairman on agriculture, passage of the bill would promote modern techniques of animal husbandry and forestall peaceful coexistence between herders, residents and promote international best practices in livestock administration, regulation and control in the State.
In his words he said, “We want to be thorough and democratic so that the feelings and opinions of the people and groups relevant to the bill will not be ignored”.
Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor in his remark said open grazing of cattle with it’s associated problems has generated a lot of interest and concern in the country with the southern Nigeria Governors resolving that a bill prohibiting open grazing be passed by all of its member states.
According to Okafor, the necessary legislative action on the bill could not be initiated earlier than now because the state house of assembly was on her annual recess and only resumed sitting on the 21st of this month.
“Giving the sensitive nature of the bill, the house in it’s corporate wisdom resolved to subject it to proper public scrutiny hence this public hearing. The idea is to harness the inputs and opinions of divers stakeholders on the matter so that what finally emerges will be a product of consensus opinion of all relevant segments of Anambra State”.
Speaking to newsmen after the public hearing promised Ndi-Anambra that the bill would be passed into Law, as soon as possible, probably in the next plenary, which is slated for Tuesday, 5th October 2021.
Stakeholders of various groups in their separate speeches elicited expect opinions, suggestions, contributions and sundry views on the subject that the resultant law would serve the best interest of all
The public hearing had in attendance various farmers groups, including the miyette Allah, leadership of traditional rulers, religious bodies, Ohaneze Ndigbo, President-General of different communities and civil society organizations.
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