By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has banned movement of cattle in any part of the state, starting from September. This is in line with the 2021 Anti-open Grazing Law of the state.

Soludo made this known over the weekend during a meeting with members of Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee held at the Government House, Awka.

He said: “Though the law has been in existence since almost one year ago, cattle rearers keep parading certain areas in the state in contravention of the law.”

The governor vowed that his administration would begin concerted implementation of the law by next month.

Recall that the Immediate past governor of the state, Willie Obiano, had assented to the Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State, joining his counterparts in the Southern states who had unanimously agreed to outlaw the practice.

He did also direct the law enforcement agencies to enforce the law with immediate effect, stating: “Now that we have a law banning open grazing, the law enforcement agents have been directed to implement it.”

This, however, did not come to be as herdsmen continued to move about the state with their cows and no arrest had ever been announced by the law enforcement agencies in that respect.

While applauding members of the Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee for their devotion to duty, Soludo said that though Anambra operated in social harmony with everyone, including herdsmen, they (herdsmen) must, as in other businesses, operate within the ambit of extant laws.

“Because my administration launched initiatives to encourage tree planting, there would be no enough land to accommodate open grazing.

“The initiative was geared towards salvaging the Anambra environment from erosion which is fast depleting the scarce land, informing gradual consideration for implemention of ranching as a modern way of cattle rearing because of its numerous advantages and money-making potentials,” the Governor said.

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