A heated debate erupted in the Senate on Wednesday over a bill seeking to establish a National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission to regulate cattle ranching across Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue North-West), aims to control and manage ranches nationwide.
While Zam argued that the commission would help preserve and regulate ranches, opposition came from Senators Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), who felt the bill favored the North, where cattle rearing is more prevalent. They argued that legislation should cater to the entire country, not just a region.
However, supporters of the bill, including Senator Hussein Babangida Uba (Jigawa North-West), emphasized the need for the commission to address farmer-herder clashes. The bill was eventually passed for a second reading and referred to relevant committees for further review.
The controversial bill has sparked debate on the management of cattle ranching and grazing reserves in Nigeria, with some senators calling for caution and others pushing for its passage to address the lingering farmer-herder crisis.
