Henceforth, anyone found grazing in undesignated land in Ekiti State will be thrown to prison.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
The Ekiti State House of Assembly, yesterday prescribed six months jail term for any herdsmen who allow his cattle, sheep and goat to graze on undesignated land in Ekiti State.
The Speaker of the House, Kola Oluwawole, said the bill would now reduce the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state as tries to regulate public grazing in the state.
According to the new bill tagged, ”Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016″, anyone found violating the bill upon conviction shall be sentenced to six months in prison without option of fine.
"The Governor shall by an order designates land in each of 16 LGAs in the state in respect of which Cattle or Ruminants may be permitted to graze. No person shall cause or permit any cow, oxen, sheep as well as goat under his or her control to graze on any land in which the Governor has not designated as ranches.
"The bill forbids movement of cattle by herdsmen and owners of goat in the Ekiti after 6 p.m. No cattle or other ruminants shall by any means move in the night, movement shall be between 7 a.m and 6p.m.” the bill states.