A bill that seeks to set up ranches as the only alternative for cattle breeding in Nigeria has been rejected by Senators from the north and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission establishment Bill scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate yesterday after an intense debate.
The bill aims to establish ranches for herders in their states of origin, replacing the current practice of open grazing.
If enacted, the commission would oversee the management, preservation and control of ranches nationwide.
Nigeria has struggled with herders-farmers conflicts for years, leading to losses of lives and property.
Sponsor of the bill, Senator Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue, APC), said creating ranches in pastoralists’ states of origin would prevent conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence.
“The bill proposes that ranches be established in the pastoralists’ state of origin without forcing it upon other states or communities that do not have pastoralists as citizens.
“The bill proposes that interested parties in livestock business must seek and obtain approvals of their host communities to establish ranches for peaceful co-existence,” said the sponsor, Zam said.
Tartyenger wants open grazing banned through legislation that would end the frequent clashes between farmers and herders.
However, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi, PDP) said confining herders to their states of origin was against their constitutional rights.
“This bill proposes that the pastoralists should be confined to their states of origin. This is against the constitution because they are Nigerians and should be allowed to move freely in Nigeria,” he said.
Aliero also said ranches should be established as private businesses that do not require the involvement of the federal government by establishing a commission.
He said the only reason he would support the bill was to expunge the provision restricting the ranches to the states of origin of herders.
In corroborating Aliero, Senator Mohammed Goje (Gombe, APC) said the bill was discriminatory, adding that cattle rearing is more prevalent in the North.
He said the bill should cover the entire country, not just a specific region.
Speaking in a similar tone, Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano, NNPP) picked a hole in the bill, saying it infringes herders’ rights.
“The bill will even compound the problems of the herders and the farmers. You can’t propose a law to attend to a particular group or section of the country only. This bill is not holistic, and we will fight it till the end,” Kawu said.
Senator Hussein Babangida Uba (Jigawa, APC), warned against passing the bill, saying it has generated controversies in the past.
