BREAKING: Kicks As Senate Passes Bill To Regulate Cattle Rearing, Ranching

The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission following a heated debate on Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam representing Benue North West, aims to control and regulate cattle rearing and ranching businesses across the country.

Explaining the principles of the bill, Zam highlighted the necessity for the proposed Commission to manage, regulate, and preserve ranches nationwide. He stated, “The proposed National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission is for the management, preservation, and control of ranches throughout Nigeria.”

The bill, however, faced strong opposition from Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe and Senator Adamu Aliero from Kebbi. Both lawmakers and former governors argued that cattle rearing and ranching are predominantly northern activities and contended that legislation should be nationwide rather than region-specific. Goje specifically noted that cattle routes start from the far north and end in Lokoja, asserting that “the route does not extend to the South.”

Senator Hussein Babangida Uba, representing Jigawa North-West, urged caution in passing the bill due to its controversial history.

Supporters of the bill argued that the proposed Commission would help manage the farmers/herders crisis and should therefore be approved.

The bill was passed after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary, and Legal Matters for further review within four weeks.