The Senate’s move to ban open grazing of cattle

To truly end the rampant clashes between pastoralist herdsmen and farmers that have led to massive loss of lives, food insecurity, and unemployment in many parts of the country, outlawing open grazing, the process of which has started in the Senate, is the way to go.
   

Those who insist on open grazing should know that the method could have been practised freely and peacefully in the past, but today it has become a recipe for bloodletting. Indeed, it is very obvious that in modern times, open grazing has become a menace, aggravating the insecurity of life and property in the country, causing distrust and destroying the age-long peaceful coexistence among the people. To insist on open grazing of cattle is to vote for the perennial crisis that threatens the unity and development of Nigeria. The current intervention of the Senate by way of a law to ban open grazing is overdue for peace to reign. We advise that alternative and modern methods of cattle rearing that will not cause enmity among Nigerians should be embraced for the benefit of all.
 
Recently, there was a heated debate in the Senate during consideration of a bill to ban open grazing and establish ranches as an alternative solution to the frequent violent clashes between sedentary farmers and nomadic herders in Nigeria. It was learnt that the proposal came after a motion on the bill was moved by Senator Titus Zam representing Benue North-West, who argued, in his lead debate, that the menace of farmers-herders clashes could easily be cured through a legislative therapy banning open grazing. His argument also hinged on the need to adopt international best practices in animal husbandry by establishing a law to stop open grazing to discard the old-fashioned, hazardous and burdensome culture. The bill, which proposes ranching as the only viable alternative for cattle breeding in Nigeria, also advocates for the urgent transition from traditional livestock-keeping methods to modern methods which are safer and healthier for both the herds and the herders. Furthermore, 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 indigenes. And for peaceful co-existence, there is a proposal that interested parties in the livestock business must seek and obtain approvals from their host communities to establish ranches.
   

According to media reports, the portion of the bill, which proposes that ranches be established in pastoralists’ states without forcing it in other states that do not have pastoralist communities became the subject of contention that made some of the lawmakers from the northern part of the country, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, to be opposed to it. Jibrin wanted the bill to be stepped down, but the majority of the lawmakers gave their support when the matter was eventually put to a voice vote. The proposed law was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Trade and Investment and the Committee on Legal Services, which were given one month to report back. The lawmakers also proposed a national summit on the matter, in addition to a public hearing for a comprehensive solution.
 
For over five years now, drought and desertification in the northern part of the country have been forcing many pastoralist herdsmen to seek grazing land for their cattle in the south. This has resulted in unhealthy competition over reserves and constant clashes with local farmers. Some murderous herdsmen are not only pillaging, plundering and terrorising local farmers, vandalising their farmlands, desecrating their livelihoods, and rapping women and girls, but they are also killing those who dare to challenge their criminal activities. The impunity with which the herdsmen carried out their nefarious activities, particularly during the last administration, wielding AK-47 rifles and other weapons openly against the law and the failure of the government to practically check their excesses despite public outcry, as well as the calibre of people coming out to directly or indirectly defend the herders, glaringly indicates that they are enjoying the backing of some powerful Nigerians in the corridor of power. The media is often awash with reports of attacks on farmers who try to resist the invasion of their farmland with cattle which eat their crops and destroy their livelihoods. Many of the herders have also been accused of perpetrating kidnapping for ransom and militia expeditions against farming communities considered antagonistic to their herding and pasturing activities.
   

Sadly, instead of encouraging the herders to embrace alternative methods in their strictly private business of rearing cattle, that will not bring friction between them and farmers, the Federal Government has made several failed attempts at preserving the old-fashioned, and clearly dangerous open grazing, not minding the consequences, including loss of lives and properties, food insecurity, famine and unemployment that the country has suffered. Prominent and most rejected of the Federal Government’s attempts is the directive that state governments should make land available for open grazing of cattle by the herdsmen. Many states not only rejected the demand, they went further to promulgate laws against open grazing, which is seen as the private business of the herdsmen.
 
In 2021, when it seemed the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers were going to bring down the country, the Southern Governors Forum, after their meeting at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State, collectively announced a ban on open grazing in all the 17 southern states, advising the Federal Government to support willing states to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems. ‘Development and population growth have put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South, including cattle movement to the South by foot,’ the governors declared. By this collective declaration by the governors, after individual efforts to tackle the herders-farmers clashes, half of the country was already against open grazing.
 
Eminent jurist, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), in a write-up, noted: ‘…even if state lands are acquired for the establishment of grazing colonies, there is no guarantee that the Fulani herdsmen will not seek to extend their domain by forcefully acquiring other lands because, by their nature, they are nomads. There is also the possibility that whatever expanse of land designated for the herdsmen may be overgrazed by the cattle, and, therefore, leading to the irresistible temptation to forcefully take further territories which have vegetation. These considerations are notwithstanding whether these ranches are privately or publicly managed.’
   

Unfortunately, the frequent friction between herdsmen and farmers has become a daunting security challenge in Nigeria, compounding the terrorism unleashed on the country by Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP, and the nefarious activities of other criminal gangs across the federation. We advise that the senators, who are opposed to the banning of open grazing, should shun ethnic sentiments and emotions for the national interest to prevail. The argument that the ban on open grazing will constitute an infringement on the herders’ freedom of movement and residence in any part of the country cannot stand. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives the freedom does not and will never envisage a situation where, while exercising freedom of movement or residence, a Nigerian herder whose cattle are hungry will pasture the animals into the farms of another man in another community, state or region to eat the crops which constitute his livelihood.  That will be illegal. The freedom to freely visit friends, business partners, relatives, among others, and to be resident in any new location in the country has not been taken away from any Nigerian, but when that constitutes a major threat to the safety of life and property as well as the livelihoods of the host, the visitor becomes a security risk, and the primary responsibility of the government is to protect the host and his interests.

The lawmakers were elected to make laws for the good governance of Nigeria. It will be difficult to achieve good governance in a country where there is no peace and justice. On the herders-farmers clashes, the lawmakers are taking the right step by their move to ban open grazing. Their action will promote peace and save the country from avoidable bloodshed.