15th November, 2017
The Speaker of Benue House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, has called on the Federal Government to formulate a policy that will authorise ranching as the only method of rearing livestock
Ikyange made the call on Tuesday in Makurdi when he received members of Plateau Youth G-17 Peace and Progress who came to study the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition Law, with the view to replicating it in Plateau.
The speaker stressed that it was high time that the Federal Government adopted ranching as the only method of rearing livestock, in line with global best practices.
Ikyange said that cattle ranching had proven to be the best way of ensuring peaceful coexistence between herdsmen and farmers.
He rejected certain claims that the state’s anti-open grazing law was targeted at victimising Fulani herdsmen or a particular group of people.
He said that the law, which was passed, assented to and implemented in line with international best practices, was applicable to all the citizens.
Ikyange pledged that the state Assembly was ready to share its experience on the passage of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law with any other state legislature which wanted to enact a similar law.
He disclosed that some speakers had already indicated interest in enacting similar legislation in their states so as to tackle the frequent crisis between farmers and herdsmen.
He urged the youth group to initiate a similar bill for presentation to the Plateau House of Assembly for passage and thanked its members for recognising the success of the Benue experience.
Earlier, leader of the group, Mr Danja-Yaks Gyang, said that the visit was to congratulate the Benue Assembly and Government on the successful passage and implementation of the law.
He said that the group also wanted study the law to facilitate the development of the bill for a similar law which would be transmitted the Plateau Assembly for its consideration and passage.