Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Monday signed the anti-open grazing bill into law.
The Lagos State House of Assembly had passed the bill and transmitted it to the Governor for assent.
This was made known by governor’s media aide on print media, Wale Ajetunmobi.
“Breaking! Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, this afternoon, signs the bill prohibiting open cattle grazing in Lagos into law,” he posted on Facebook.
Following the assent and the instrument in the bill, open cattle grazing is now prohibited across the state.
Cattle Breeders are now mandated to acquire lands for ranching.
The law proposes a 21-year jail term for herders in possession of firearms; and the establishment of a taskforce to curb open grazing of cattle in a city famed for its gridlock and bedlam.
This is coming after the Southern Governors had agreed to ban open grazing in the region. The governors had explained that the decision was to curb the infiltration of bad elements into the region.
Among governors that have assented the anti-open grazing bill are; Governor Adeboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Clashes between herders and crop farmers have led to loss of lives and torching of communities across the country, in recent times.
