The Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has praised the Senate for advancing a bill aimed at establishing ranches in states populated by herders, which successfully passed its second reading.
This commendation was given by the Acting National Youth Leader of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, during a press interaction in Awka on Friday.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Zam (APC- Benue North-West Senatorial District), is formally titled: “A Bill to Establish a National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches Throughout Nigeria; and for Connected Purposes, 2024.” It passed its second reading on Wednesday.
Okpalaezeukwu emphasized that the bill is crucial for mitigating the persistent clashes between farmers and nomadic herders. He noted that these conflicts have repeatedly led to loss of life and property, significantly impacting the country’s economy.
According to him, the establishment of ranches would help manage and control the frequent and unnecessary crises. “The basic responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens and open grazing is detrimental to it. Rearing of cattle is not an ethnic phenomenon, it has become a matter of national security and not something to be sentimental about.”
He further argued that many countries produce more cattle and engage in dairy businesses without such crises, attributing this to their avoidance of open grazing. “There are many countries that produce more cattle and do other dairy businesses than Nigeria but do not encounter such crisis, and that is because they do not engage in open grazing.”
In conclusion, Okpalaezeukwu called on Nigerians to see ranching as a viable and necessary option at this critical juncture. “We urge Nigerians to consider ranching as a viable option at this critical time,” he said.
