Open Grazing Ban: We Will Meet Sept Deadline – Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said the state government will meet the September deadline set for the ban of open grazing in the Southern part of the country.

Recall that the Southern Governors’ Forum at its recent meeting in Lagos State had asked all governors to ensure that the ban on open grazing takes effect from September.

Speaking during a television programme in Asaba on Tuesday, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olisa Ifeajika, said the state government had begun work toward enacting a law to prohibit open grazing in the state.

He disclosed that the Delta State Livestock Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021 is already before the House of Assembly and passed first reading.

Ifeajika expressed optimism that the Bill would be passed and made ready for the governor’s assent before the September deadline.

He commended the Speaker and members of the Assembly for their commitment towards ensuring that the Bill was passed on time.

“It is true that the Southern Governors’ Forum had set September deadline for states to pass their anti-open grazing laws.

“For us in Delta, we would have had ours passed and ready long ago if not for the strike embarked upon by the parliamentary workers.

“However, the Bill is already before the House and it has passed through first reading while the second reading has been slated for Wednesday.

“I am very optimistic that the Law will be ready in Delta before the September deadline set by the Southern Governors’ Forum.

“I must commend the Speaker and members of the House for their commitment in ensuring that the Bill gets the urgent attention it deserves,” he said.