Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Thursday signed into law, the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Amendment Bill 2017.
The state House of Assembly had during plenary last Tuesday passed the bill after considering the report of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
clause by clause.
The state governor had called for the review of the bill on grounds that the principal law had some lacuna which needed an amendment to make it stiffer and to be able to deter those who flagrantly disrespect the law.
With the amended law, any person found moving livestock on foot within or across urban centres, rural settlements or any part of Benue State will pay N500,000 as fine for first offender while subsequent offender is liable to pay N1 million with appropriate prison terms and options of fine.
Also, following the signing of the amended document into law, anyone who engages the services of an underaged child risk 14-year jail term with an option of N5 million fine. There also various fines for confiscated livestock which includes N50,000 fine per cow, N10,000 per pig, N5,000 per goat and N1,000 per poultry bird.
The governor said the old moderate fine for a confiscated animal which prescribed N2000 per cow was reviewed to N50,000 based on current realities and the cost spent in bringing and caring for them at the state’s quarantine centre.
He added, “If the owners don’t come to collect same day of confiscation, they will have to pay an additional N20,000 for each cow. If you don’t pay within seven days, the law permits us to unction it.”