The South East zone leadership of the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN) has pleaded with Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo not to impose the prohibition on the transportation of cattle on foot in the state.
Cows can be observed wandering the streets in urban and rural regions and on people's farms even though the state has a regulation prohibiting the pedestrian movement of cattle on highways.
Cattle and other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State was signed into law in 2021 by then-governor Willie Obiano, but it has not yet been implemented.
Last weekend, Governor Chukwuma Soludo met with the Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee at the Government House in Awka, reaffirming the statewide prohibition on the transportation of cattle by foot.
Soludo insisted that the execution of the state's anti-open grazing law, passed in 2021, would begin this month and that the prohibition was in line with that law. We have legislation prohibiting open grazing, and the police have been instructed to enforce it.
Even though the law was passed about a year ago, cattle have been openly parading around some parts of the state, as Soludo put it.
He praised the hard work of the Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee and said that the state's residents have generally gotten along well with herdsmen.
He did, however, issue a warning that the herders must operate within the bounds of the applicable legislation.
However, in response to the governor's order, the cattle breeders said that if the legislation was upheld, it would harm their industry.
Following a meeting in Awka yesterday, the association's head for the South East geographical zone, Mallam Gidado Siddiki, asked the governor to halt the law's implementation until they further educate their members on its terms.
The majority of us (Fulanis) are only familiar with raising cattle, according to Siddiki. Some of us could not find other employment since we were born within the Anambra State cattle ranching industry.
As law-abiding citizens, we have forewarned and equally urged all of our members to protect the trees in their various host communities. "The herders are aware that the state government has flagged off massive tree planting exercises in the 181 communities of the state as part of measures to control the spread of gully erosion in the state.
"Our members will keep up their dedication to living in harmony with the host communities in the state and the South East geopolitical zone.
Therefore, we ask all interested parties to join us in pleading with the governor to change his mind.