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The Ekiti House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a bill banning free grazing in the state.
The bill prescribes six-month imprisonment without option of fine for any offender. It also prohibits movement of cattle after 6pm.
The development followed submission to the House of a report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Environment by its chairman, Ayodele Fajemilehin.
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The Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, who presided over the plenary, said the bill would reduce clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.
When it is eventually assented to by the state governor, it would become a criminal offence for any person’s cattle, sheep or goat to graze on lands not designated ranches.
The bill reads in part: “The governor shall by an order designate land in each of the 16 Local Government Areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants may be permitted to graze. No cattle or other ruminants shall by any means move in the night. Movement shall be between 7am and 6pm.”
