The National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which has passed its second reading in the Senate, faces opposition from pastoralists in Nigeria.
They argue that the bill, aimed at establishing ranches for herders in their states of origin, will exacerbate farmer-herder clashes and threaten their livelihood.
The bill proposes a five-year jail term and N50,000 fine for defaulters and restricts herders’ movement and grazing practices.
Pastoralists view the provisions as unconstitutional and an onslaught on their way of life, according to Daily Trust.
Despite opposition from northern senators, the bill advanced to its second reading on June 5, 2024.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has called for a public hearing to incorporate stakeholders’ input, including cattle herders and state governments, to reach a consensus on the bill.
The bill’s provisions include penalties for offenders, management and control of ranches nationwide, and restrictions on land use and movement of cattle. However, pastoralists believe the bill will breed bad blood among Nigerians and worsen the livestock sector’s challenges instead of addressing them.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Ngelzarma, in an interview on Daily Politics on Trust TV, said the bill is suspicious and should not be allowed to stand because it is sponsored by a senator from Benue State.
Ngelzarma recalled that the Benue State government had during the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom enacted an anti-open grazing law, which had done both the pastoralists and farmers in the state no good.
He said the National Ranches Commission Bill, 2024, is an attempt to replicate what happened in Benue State, stressing that rather than establishing a ranches commission, the ministry of livestock and fisheries should be established in the interest of all.
He said, “We received the news of the bill with the greatest surprise. But I don’t want to say much about it now because we have already established a committee that has representatives from all the pastoralist groups that are now working to come up with an informed position on the bill.
“The bill is coming from a senator from Benue State, that is why we are suspicious. If you study the bill, you will realise nothing has been said about the creation of grazing reserves. I don’t think even livestock is mentioned in the bill.
“All that it dwells on is animal husbandry. So, to me, it is like he (Senator Zam) is trying to extend the hatred they have for pastoralists in Benue State to the national level. To the pastoralists, the bill is suspicious.
“As I speak with you now, there is no single ranch established in Benue. I challenge the senator to speak out, if there is one single ranch in Benue State.
“The pastoralists were chased out of Benue; a lot of them were chased out of Benue because of the open grazing prohibition law established by the former governor five or six years ago.
“No one has established a single ranch. We feel the law is just about chasing out pastoralists away from the state. Today, we have farmers kept in IDP camps; they are not allowed to go back to their farms. So, I don’t think the law has done anybody any good.
“We, as pastoralists, are very much dwelling on the creation of a full-blown ministry for livestock and fisheries. This will address issues of livestock production, processing, marketing, transportation, security and so many others.
“Having the ministry will help exploit the potentials the livestock sector has on the economy, rather than coming up with a commission that will only address one side of livestock issues which is ranching.”
