Tobi Adebayo
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said that the ban on open grazing by the 17 Southern governors will not take effect until ranching is provided as an alternative for herders.

The association said this in response to the call by a former Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, that all states Houses of Assembly in the South-East should enact anti-grazing law in their respective states.

Chairman of MACBAN (South-East chapter), Gidado Siddiki said that the herders are not opposed to the ban on open grazing but an alternative should be provided.

“We were not given the chance to go for the Constitution review public hearing, we went there but nobody gave us an audience to talk to. We did not submit a petition.

“Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing, but at least we need an alternative.

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“You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business, he would be given an alternative on what to do.

“When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem, and that is the only thing we are begging for.

“If open grazing is bringing problems, let us find ways we can coexist.

“If there is provision for ranching, we can do ranching but I do not think there is provision for ranching in states. Even Benue State banned open grazing, I don’t think there has been any ranching in Benue State in all these years.

“So, I don’t know if there is the provision and that is our own problem,” Siddiki said.