Pastoralists in Nigeria have rejected the National Ranches Commission Establishment Bill 2024 which has scaled a second reading at the Senate, saying it is a recipe for chaos because it will not address the protracted farmer-herder clashes in the country. The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam (APC, Benue North West), is aimed at establishing ranches for herders in their states of origin. It also proposed a five-year jail term and N50, 000 fine for defaulters, when it eventually gets presidential assent and becomes an act of parliament. Besides other provisions that were seen by pastoralists as a direct onslaught on their major source of livelihood, the recommendation that herders should be relocated to their states of origin had elicited anger both at the hallowed chambers of the Senate and beyond.
Most of those who spoke said even though it was high time to modernise animal husbandry in Nigeria, the provisions in the bill were mischievous and not in sync with the letters of the 1999 Constitution.
They also believed that instead of addressing the challenges afflicting the livestock sector, the bill, when it becomes a law, will breed bad blood among the generality of Nigerians.
The bill from the National Assembly provides restrictions and penalties for offenders.
If enacted, the National Ranches Commission would oversee the management, preservation and control of ranches nationwide, the sponsor said.
And even though the bill faced stiff opposition from northern senators, it finally scaled a second reading at the Senate on June 5, 2024.
The bill in Part 1V, Section 23 (1), says, “Any person who contravenes any provisions of this Act or regulations made hereunder shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000 or imprisonment for 5 years or both.”
Part 1V, Section 22 (1-7) of the bill listed an avalanche of actions that would land one in jail if he or she perpetrates any of the offences.
It reads, “No person shall alienate any rights affecting land constituted as the National Ranches, by sale, mortgage, assignment, lease, customary pledge, transfer, or otherwise however.
“No improvements shall be done by anybody in the National Ranches without the approval of the Commission or the Ranch Controller in writing. No encroachment of any kind into the National Ranches, enclave, resting points, water points and other designated areas for stock use by anybody whosoever.
“Bush burning and hunting are prohibited within National Ranches. The use of chemicals, felling of trees, destruction of ecosystems in whatever form are strictly prohibited under this Act.
“Movement of cattle from one ranch to another or market place shall be only by vehicular means. No livestock or cattle shall be allowed by any individual, group of persons or organisation to wander, roam, move and or graze outside the National Ranches.”
Recall that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had called for a public hearing to include input from all stakeholders, including cattle herders and state governments on the bill.
Akpabio assured that efforts would be made to reach a consensus on the bill, including necessary amendments to the Land Use Act.