Miyetti-Allah urges FG to establish Livestock Ministry, insists open anti-grazing law unconstitutional

As the Benue state government begins full enforcement of the anti-open grazing law with the arrest and planned prosecution of a herder, Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore has urged the Federal government to establish a federal ministry of livestock and fisheries.

The group’s national secretary, Engr Saleh Alhassan who briefed reporters in Abuja argued that the establishment of the ministry would curb the problem associated with placing emphasis on crop productions to the detriment of livestock and fisheries production. He stated that the call was borne out of the realization that the national nomadic commission has failed to live up to its mandate of catering for the needs of pastoralists in the country, saying the authorities could take a cue from Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Benin where such practice have been instituted.

Alhassan maintained that the Benue state anti-open grazing law which became effective on 1st of November this year ran contrary to the provisions of the Constitution which guarantee the rights of every Nigerians to live in any place or states of their choice.

While urging government all levels to wade into their plight, the group alleged that it’s members who are mainly herdsmen were being evicted indiscriminately after the enactment of the anti-open grazing law in Benue State.

He claimed that up until now the state government is yet to provide land to herdsmen even when it was trite knowledge that the Nigerian specie of cows was not suitable for ranching purposes.

According to him: “It violates our freedom of movement which is provided for in the 1999 constitution as amended.