The Nigerian Senate considered establishing the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission.
The legislation seeks to address the prolonged conflict between farmers and herders, advocating for a nationwide ban on open grazing and the establishment of ranches.
The proposed legislation which was sponsored by Senator Titus Tarenger representing Benue North West, sought to control and regulate cattle rearing ranching business across the country.
The bill specifically proposes that ranches should be established in pastoralist states without forcing it in other states that do not have pastoralist communities.
However, some northern senators called for extra caution in passing the bill, given its trail of controversies in the past.
Supporting the consideration of the bill, other lawmakers believed that the proposed commission, if established, would manage the farmers/herders crisis.
The bill after consideration was referred by President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary and Legal Matters to be reverted in four weeks.
Meanwhile, a bill to make provision for Nigeria’s Gold reserve industry framework also scaled second reading on Wednesday.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
The bill after consideration was also referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Solid minerals, Banking, Finance and Insurance, given four weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.
-Sen. Titus Tarenger -Benue North-West
-Sen. Adamu Aliero-Kebbi Central
-Sen. Danjuma Goje-Gombe Central
-Sen. Kawu Sumalia-Kano South
-Sen. Barau Jibrin-DSP
– Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan-Kogi East
-Sen. Godswil Akpabio-Senate President
-Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe-Abia South
-Sen. Sunday Karimi Kogi-West