Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has signed into law, a bill to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock which provides for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control.
Accordingly, a task force will be set up to monitor enforcement as defaulters will pay a fine of N10 million naira as stipulated in the bill.The Executive Assent which took place at Exco Chambers Government House on Wednesday in Uyo, was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Speaker State House of Assembly, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, State Executive Council Members, Chairmen of Boards and Commissions, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments in the State.
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According to the governor, the bill which was enacted by the State House of Assembly will promote modern techniques of animal husbandry, promote job opportunities and expand the value chain in livestock business as well as promote international best practices in the state.
“In Akwa Ibom State this morning, we are signing into law in the presence of Mr. Speaker and the leader of the State House of Assembly, the entire State Executive Council Members, Chairmen of Boards and Commissions, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments in the State, a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provides for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control as enacted by the State House of Assembly as the bill is hereby contained.
“The whole objectives of this law will promote modern techniques of animal husbandry, promote job opportunities and expand the value chain in livestock business, it will promote the production of high quality of livestock in our state as well as promote international best practices,” he said.
The governor further said, the bill will promote the growth of livestock farming and prevent the destruction of farms, crops settlements and homes caused by open rearing across the state, saying ‘’if you are rearing a cattle in the state that is your line of business, so don’t use that to cause destruction for those planting cassava, because the person planting cassava is also eating from there, so we are trying to regulate it according to international best practice’’..