Twenty-one year’s jail term awaits anyone found with a firearm while herding cattle in Lagos state.
This is one of the provisions contained in a bill currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, undergoing a public hearing.
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At the hearing held at the Assembly Complex in Alausa, Ikeja, the deputy speaker, Eshilokun Sanni said the bill if passed into law aims to prevent clashes with herders and straying of cattle into farmland across the state.
He hinted that another provision in the proposed law stipulates that any person that owns or is in control of cattle and allows such cattle to graze on any land that does not belong to the owner of cattle, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to pay fifty thousand naira for each cow.
But the Lagos Chapter Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has pleaded for more time, insisting that ranching will be too capital intensive for its members.
If passed and assented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a task force will be created to enforce the law and all cattle seized will be auctioned within seven days if the owners fail to appear and pay fines and cost incurred for transporting and maintaining the cattle.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
