Delta boosts anti-open grazing law, creates livestock management committee

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, inaugurated a 19-member Livestock Management Committee to ensure that the law on anti-open grazing was effectively implemented.

While inaugurating the committee at Government House, Asaba, he said Delta had been home to diverse people living peacefully among indigenes until the influx of criminal elements, who had turned bushes to den of criminality.

The governor charged the committee to embark on serious advocacy to enlighten the people and livestock breeders on the need to obey the law, saying: “There is need for lots of advocacy and you have to ensure you execute the law to the best interest of the people.”

He urged the chairman and members of the committee to work closely with traditional rulers, presidents-general of communities and other stakeholders to put all processes in place to execute the law to the best intent for which it was made.

“A few weeks ago, the Delta State House of Assembly passed the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill 2021. I must thank them sincerely for putting a seal in the law, which was an Executive Bill following the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum that met in Asaba.

“I want to use this medium to thank members who have accepted to serve in the committee. There is no doubt that we have been living peacefully with our brothers from the North.

“Unfortunately, over time, we have a lot of persons, who have come into our bushes and many times unknown to those whom our people relate with and they have turned our bushes into a den of criminality.”

Okowa explained that in constituting the committee, the government ensured that there were representatives of the Delta State Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association and the Butchers Union.

Responding, Chairman of the committee, who is the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Julius Egbedi, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve, assuring him that the committee would carry out the task in the best interest of the people.

He stated that the committee would work towards ensuring harmonious living between farmers and livestock breeders.