Bayelsa moves against indiscriminate bush burning, open grazing

The Bayelsa State Government has expressed its commitment to addressing the issues of indiscriminate bush burning and unchecked open grazing of cattle.

 Acting Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this clear during a State Executive Council meeting held at Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

Ewhrudjakpo directed the Ministry of Environment to take immediate measures to identify and arrest those involved in these harmful practices.

He also instructed the Task Force on Livestock Management to ensure that cattle rearers do not cause damage to crops and farmlands across communities.

Emphasising the dangers of bush burning to both the ecosystem and human health, Ewhrudjakpo warned that perpetrators must cease their actions or face legal consequences.

He further ordered the activation of the task force to apprehend individuals engaged in bush burning and ensure they face justice.

Regarding the issue of cattle rearers encroaching on farmlands, Ewhrudjakpo reminded the public that the state’s anti-grazing law was still in effect and must be fully enforced.

He stressed that the Task Force on Livestock Management should take all necessary steps to ensure herders operate within the law, preventing the destruction of lives, property, and crops.

Ewhrudjakpo urged the public to understand the dangers of bush burning, reminding them that it jeopardises the health of other citizens.

He directed the Ministry of Environment to ensure compliance with anti-burn regulations and take legal action against offenders.

He said, “We want to use this opportunity to alert the public about the danger of bush burning. The hazards are quite known by everybody.

“Nobody should, for the sake of their farms which they want to keep clean and cultivate, jeopardise the health of other citizens. And so, the Ministry of Environment is hereby directed to activate the task force on anti-burning.

“The ministry must make sure that all those who are involved in bush burning are discouraged, and where they fail to comply, they should either be brought to justice or justice taken to them.

“In a similar vein, we are aware of the influx of herders into our state. The State Task Force on Livestock Management is hereby also directed to activate all machinery to ensure that herders don’t come into our state to destroy our farmlands.

“The law on anti-grazing remains in force and should be enforced in all ramifications. So, livestock management committee, both at the state and local government levels, should be activated and make sure that they curtail and contain every unnecessary grazing that is not permitted in our state.”