Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has directed the relevant state government officials to enforce the ban on open grazing of cattle in the state.
The governor who frowned at the recalcitrance of herders in obeying the state’s law banning open grazing, warned that the ban was still in force.
Gov. Diri, who gave the order at the 148 State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Yenagoa on Thursday, also tasked community leaders to work with state officials to ensure that the law is implemented to the fullest.
The governor said the state cannot afford a situation where farmlands are being destroyed by herders, saying that while Bayelsa is open to everyone to do business, the laws protecting all residents of the state must be obeyed.
He cautioned residents of the state against bush burning, saying there were better ways of farming that do not harm the people and the environment.
“We banned open grazing in this state in 2022 and it remains banned. It is a crime for any herder to destroy any farm. All relevant agencies are hereby directed that no herder should be allowed into our bushes.
“By our laws, no herder has the authority to destroy our farmlands. I call on our brothers from the north to know that in Bayelsa State, you cannot do open grazing.
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“All community leaders are hereby called upon to ensure that within their domain, no cattle herder is found involved in open grazing. Our laws against open grazing must be implemented to the fullest,” the governor maintained.
Gov. Diri also used the occasion to appeal to striking lecturers in the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), saying the government was willing to make concessions to improve their welfare.
Gov. Diri appealed to the NDU chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its industrial action, which began on December 10.
He urged the lecturers to toe the path of negotiations in the interest of the students, stressing that his administration holds lecturers in high esteem and is willing to listen to their demands.
