The Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Prohibition of Open Rearing of Livestock and Ranching Administration bill, in line with the anti-open grazing stance of the southern states.
The bill was passed after an extensive debate by members of the house.
It was passed after the joint committee on environment and agriculture submitted its report to the house.
The lawmaker representing Obio Akpor Constituency II, Micheal Chinda, however, voted against the passage of the bill, citing the refusal of the house to expunge section 5 L of the bill allowing for the creation of pathways for the movement of cattle.
Chinda said: “I had expected the committee to delete clause 5L; they didn’t do it, they left it there which means they want to create pathways.
“I’m not against the creation of pathways, but Obio Akpor does not have space for pathways, I don’t know what happens in the other 22 local governments but I am talking about Obio Akpor and constituency 2 for that matter.
“You know how heavily populated we are, we are talking about where human beings will stay, not where animals will be moving.”
The Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Ikuyi Awaji Ibani, in his resolution, explained that the bill, when signed into law, will regulate animal grazing and establishment of cattle ranching in the state. ##
