The controversial Grazing Reserve Bill surfaced on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday and immediately passed First Reading.
The bill christened “National Grazing Reserve Agency Bill” was sponsored by former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwanso.
In the same vein a counter Bill called National Ranches Commission Bill was read on the floor and also scaled through first reading. The Bill was sponsored by Senator Barnabas Gemade.
The National Grazing Reserves Bill which has passed already Second Reading in the House of Representatives, has been generating ripples in the southern part of the country and some parts of the north especially against the backdrop of frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country which has led to killings, kidnapping and wanton destruction of property.
It seeks to establish grazing reserves and stock routes for cattle rearers in all the states of the country.
The Grazing Reserves Bill which reappeared on Wednesday, was first sponsored by Zainab Kure in the 7th Senate, but was not passed into law.
Most state governors especially in the Southern states have expressed reservations about the desire of the federal government to through the Bill, forcefully acquire lands in the states for the exclusive use of the cattle rearers.
The new Bill in the Senate proposes to establish a National Grazing Reserve Commission which will be charged with the responsibility of using funds received from the Federal Government to acquire lands in all states of the country and develop them through the provision of boreholes, water reservoirs and other necessities for the use of cattle rearers.
The introduction of the controversial Bill negates the earlier stance of the senate which had denied the existence of such Bill when the issue began to generate heat in April this year.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE
