Southern Nigeria Not Enclave For Open Grazing – Ebonyi Gov., Umahi

• “We will no longer allow you take your cattle from one local government to the other.”

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi says the infrastructural designs and dynamics of southern Nigeria mitigates against the practice of open crazing, noting that the region was not created to accommodate such style of animal husbandry.

Ekohotblog had reported that Southern governors, in a meeting held at Asaba, Delta State, resolved to ban open grazing in southern Nigeria.

According to them, the unanimous decision was taken to tackle increasing insecurity and violence associated with activities of herders in the region.

Speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, Umahi said open grazing was suitable in Northern part of Nigeria where there were cattle routes but not good in southern Nigeria where such didn’t exist.

“In the South-East you don’t have cattle routes. But inthe North, we have cattle routes. So nobody will say ban open grazing in the North where there are cattle routes, where they move constitutionally from one point to the other,” MUmahi said.

He added that ban on open grazing is to prevent destructions of farms common with herders walking their herds through peoples farms in southern Nigeria.

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He added that the southern region was replete with farmlands and densely populated area, noting that such scenerio would not augur well with unrestrained herding of cattle from one point to another in the region.

“But in the South there is not cattle route. So for you to move from one point to the other you have to move through farms. You have to move through densely populated areas,”

“That is not good. That’s why southern governors, especially South-East governors, are saying let’s go back to our traditional method of relationship. We will no longer allow you take your cattle from one local government to the other.”