Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday signed the Anti-Open Grazing bill into law.

 

The law prohibits the open-grazing and trespass of cattle  in the state.

 

The signing comes 11 days after the State House of Assembly passed the bill, after it through the first and second readings in the House. The House also conducted a public hearing on the issue.

 

The law is part of decisions taken by the governors of Nigeria’s 17 southern states, to curb the excesses of criminals who hide under the guise of rearing cattle to unleash terror in rural areas and sometimes within cities.

 

This legislation makes it a criminal office to graze cattle in unapproved public areas and private lands. Similarly, it prohibits moving cattle around public places by herders.

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu, after signing the bill, asked security agencies to begin enforcement immediately.

 

“By the powers vested in me as the Governor of Lagos State, I am signing the bill on Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle on Land into law to prohibit issues associated with open grazing of livestock,” the governor said.