Tobias Sylvester
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, says the practice, which encourages herders to move from one location to another as “un-Islamic” and shouod be discontinued.
Masari states this during a media chat in his office on Tuesday, while reacting to the current debate over the ban on open grazing in the southern part of the country.
The governor said the movement of livestock is part of the problems we are having today, adding that the needed infrastructure should be provided for the herders so that they do not move cattle by foot.
“This is something we have to do through development, provide necessary infrastructure that will make the herders not to move. Why should herders from Katsina move to other states?
“The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things – water and fodder. If we can provide these two items, why should they move?”
“This roaming about I don’t think. For us, it’s un-Islamic and is not the best. It is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is,” he said.
KanyiDaily reports that there have been heated debate on open grazing in Nigeria since the 17 Southern governors unanimously banned it their states on May 11.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, while weighing in on the controversy, described the ban as unconstitutional.
The presidency also said that the ban was of “questionable legality”, accusing the Southern governors of politicking and attempting to demonstrate their executive powers.
