Akwa Ibom State House Assembly on Tuesday joined some of its counterparts in the southern part of Nigeria to pass Open Grazing Bill, which prohibits open grazing in the state.
The bill entitled, “A Bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches and Livestock administration, regulation and control, and for other matters connected therewith” was passed after it was read the third time on the floor of the House during the plenary.
Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, and member representing Ikono State Constituency, Asuquo Udo, had presented the report of Joint House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lands and Housing to the House.
The lawmakers, however, accepted the recommendations of the Joint House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lands and Housing, considered in the Committee of the whole.
Leader of the House, and member representing Oruk Anam state constituency, Udo Akpan, moved a motion for the anti-open grazing bill to be read and passed, seconded by the member representing Nsit Ubium state constituency, Mr. Otobong Bob.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House, Mr. Aniekan Bassey, ordered the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren, to refer the bill to the state governor for assent.