Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly stated that cows are not citizens of Nigeria as northern senators vehemently opposed the move to ban open grazing across the country.
In a viral video circulating on social media, there was heated debate and strong emotions in the Red Chamber during the legislative session on Wednesday, as observed by SaharaReporters.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Zam representing Benue North West, seeks to prohibit open grazing nationwide to resolve longstanding conflicts between herders and farmers.
The proposed legislation outlines specific regulations for establishing and managing ranches, promoting best practices, and mitigating disputes between herders and farmers.
However, the bill faced strong opposition from Senator Danjuma Goje of Gombe and Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi.
The northern senators argued that the bill infringes on the fundamental rights of citizens by banning the free movement of herders and their cattle.
They contended that cattle rearing and ranching are more prevalent in northern Nigeria and that laws should apply uniformly across the entire country.
Senator Aliero highlighted that traditional cattle routes from the far north to Lokoja have been disrupted by the division of the northern region into 19 states.
Despite the opposition, Senate President Akpabio stood his ground, asserting, “Cows are not citizens of Nigeria, Senator Aliero, are you arguing with me? The section you are referring to is talking about citizens of Nigeria. And cows are not citizens of Nigeria. Cows can come from Niger, Chad or anywhere.”
Supporters of the bill argued that establishing a commission to manage the farmers/herders crisis is essential, and therefore, the bill should be passed.
The bill was ultimately passed after a voice vote led by Akpabio and was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary, and Legal Matters for further review within four weeks.
This legislative measure aims to address the challenges and conflicts associated with cattle rearing, ensuring a more structured and sustainable approach to the industry.
