Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has signed the bill to prohibit and abolish open and nomadic cattle and other livestock grazing and rearing in Anambra State.
The bill also called for the establishment of cattle and other livestock ranches.
The governor signed the bill into law in a brief ceremony, which was performed at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, on Friday.
While signing the bill into law, Obiano appreciated the state House of Assembly for expeditiously passing the bill, saying that the establishment of the law will hopefully enable entrenchment of peace.
The governor said his administration had previously been doing its best to manage crises arising from the menace of cattle herders for a very long time, but added that the measures were only short-term because there was no law.
He said: “Now that we have a law banning open grazing, the law enforcement agents have been directed to implement it.”
The brief ceremony was witnessed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Uju Nworgu; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu; Commissioner for Police, Mr. Echeng Echeng; Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Nnamdi Onukwuba.
Others who were present are Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Traditional Ruler of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor; Traditional Ruler of Mbaukwu, Igwe Peter Anugwu; Member representing Awka North at the State House of Assembly, House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Chief John Nwokoye; Members of the Hausa Community in the state, among others.
