Benue State University, Makurdi

An Overview of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017

Michael T. Gusa* and Alfred M. Tijah**

Abstract

The seemingly simple search for water and fodder by herdsmen has seriously become bloodstained in Nigeria. All over the country, killings, destruction of property, and displacement of many people by Fulani herdsmen abound thereby threatening food security. To curb this menace, the Benue State Government enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017 to prevent clashes between nomadic livestock herders and crop farmers and to prevent the destruction of crop farms, environmental degradation and the spread of diseases caused by open rearing and grazing of livestock. This article employing doctrinal research methodology in evaluating the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition Law found that the Law has achieved some measure of success in reducing farmers/herdsmen clashes in the State despite stiff opposition by herdsmen and the unwillingness of the federally controlled security agencies in the implementation of the Law. It is also found that the Law does not have adequate provisions for identification and traceability of livestock. The lack of armed wielding security agency willing to implement the Law against the heavily armed herdsmen gives credence to policing. Also, an amendment of the Law is apposite to make provisions for identification of livestock for the purpose of traceability, tracking diseases outbreaks, ensure the integrity of beef production, identifying owners of straying cattle and preventing cattle rustling. Also, the education of herdsmen to instil the understanding that animal husbandry is a business and not a culture will help eliminate resort to brute force and killings in the search for fodder.

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