Sanwo-Olu Sign Anti Open Grazing Bill Into Law

By Uche Mbah

Thirteen days after the deadline given by Southern Governors for states in the region to enact anti-grazing laws, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the bill prohibiting Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle in Lagos state.

This followed, eleven days ago, the passing of the bill by the Lagos House of Assembly.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had also signed a similar bill into law.

With this, it is now criminal for herders to walk with their cattle anywhere in Lagos State unless by special authorization.

Lagos, with its dense urbanized population, is witnessing minimal herders incursion, though it is not completely rid of it. Abuja, on the other hand, has always had traffic disrupted by herds of cows in the streets.

While signing the Bill, the Governor told the security agencies to enforce the law.

“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 also signed a law changing the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) to an agency and appointed Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi as the Executive Secretary of the new agency.

On the new Agency, Sanwo-Olu said: “Raising awareness about domestic and sexual violence is an important piece of working to end the cycle of violence. It is important to reiterate the State Government’s zero tolerance for all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We will not rest on our oars until the menace is reduced to the barest minimum in Lagos.”