Bayelsa Govt Bans Open Grazing

Bayelsa State Government has enacted a law prohibiting open
grazing of livestock in the state.

Governor Douye Diri assented to the Livestock Breeding, Rearing
and Marketing Regulation Law 2021 on Wednesday at the Executive
Chamber of Government House in Yenagoa.

He said the essence of the law is to ensure harmonious living
between cattle dealers and other inhabitants of the state and to
forestall the violent clashes being experienced in other parts of
the country.

“Bayelsa State welcomes all and sundry to eke out a living
legitimately. The people of Bayelsa want to have a mutual and
harmonious relationship with non-natives and natives. The essence
of the law is to avert and forestall any clash between herdsmen,
farmers, natives and non-natives as experienced in some states,” he
said.

“From the commencement of the law, no person shall breed, rear
or trade in livestock in the state in any other place as may be
designated by the committee and approved by the state
government.”

The law, according to him, stipulates that any herdsman found
with arms, whether licenced or not, should be arrested.

Governor Diri also stated that the law establishes a livestock
management committee to regulate livestock activities in the
state.

Members of the committee include the Commissioner for
Agriculture, security agencies, youths and others.

The law prohibits the movement of cattle on foot from other
parts of the country into the state, inspection of livestock and
certification by veterinary doctors at entry points into the state
among others.

Diri said by assenting to the law, any person found engaging in
open grazing of livestock on foot commits an offence and would be
arrested and prosecuted with the livestock impounded.

The governor also signed into law the Violence Against Persons
Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.

He explained that the law was to prevent certain harmful
practices against women and children, noting that with its
enactment, Bayelsa has domesticated the federal law, which had been
in existence.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Rt Hon
Abraham Ingobere, while presenting the bills for the governor’s
assent, said the livestock regulation bill was to prevent clashes
between herdsmen and farmers.

Bayelsa State Government has enacted a law prohibiting open
grazing of livestock in the state.

Governor Douye Diri assented to the Livestock Breeding, Rearing
and Marketing Regulation Law 2021 on Wednesday at the Executive
Chamber of Government House in Yenagoa.

He said the essence of the law is to ensure harmonious living
between cattle dealers and other inhabitants of the state and to
forestall the violent clashes being experienced in other parts of
the country.

“Bayelsa State welcomes all and sundry to eke out a living
legitimately. The people of Bayelsa want to have a mutual and
harmonious relationship with non-natives and natives. The essence
of the law is to avert and forestall any clash between herdsmen,
farmers, natives and non-natives as experienced in some states,” he
said.

“From the commencement of the law, no person shall breed, rear
or trade in livestock in the state in any other place as may be
designated by the committee and approved by the state
government.”

The law, according to him, stipulates that any herdsman found
with arms, whether licenced or not, should be arrested.

Governor Diri also stated that the law establishes a livestock
management committee to regulate livestock activities in the
state.

Members of the committee include the Commissioner for
Agriculture, security agencies, youths and others.

The law prohibits the movement of cattle on foot from other
parts of the country into the state, inspection of livestock and
certification by veterinary doctors at entry points into the state
among others.

Diri said by assenting to the law, any person found engaging in
open grazing of livestock on foot commits an offence and would be
arrested and prosecuted with the livestock impounded.

The governor also signed into law the Violence Against Persons
Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.

He explained that the law was to prevent certain harmful
practices against women and children, noting that with its
enactment, Bayelsa has domesticated the federal law, which had been
in existence.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Rt Hon
Abraham Ingobere, while presenting the bills for the governor’s
assent, said the livestock regulation bill was to prevent clashes
between herdsmen and farmers.