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South West Govs, Afenifere Differ On Anti-grazing Law Enforcement

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

South-West governors and a pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, have differed over the enforcement of the anti-grazing law by states in the region.

While the state governments insisted that the law had always been implemented in their various states, Afenifere explained that enforcing the already enacted laws would stop the incessant invasion of the herders who often fed their cattle with farm produce of the farmers.

Apart from the Ekiti State Government which enacted the Anti-grazing law in 2016, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Ondo states okayed the law in 2021.

Despite the existing law, herdsmen still engage their cattle in open grazing in the South-West region.

In March 2023, farmers in Ido-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State to enforce the anti-grazing law against invaders of their farms.

However, the state government maintained that the state was implementing the anti-grazing law enacted in the state and that the Herder’s Farmers Peace Committee inaugurated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji was part of the implementation process.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezar Boluwade, added that the state government was meeting with stakeholders to ensure that the committee brought new initiatives and development into the farming community.

In Ondo State, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the state governor, Adetunji Adeleye revealed that right from its inception in 2020, the law had been effective in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Adeleye, who spoke with The PUNCH, added that several defaulters had been lawfully punished.

He said, “We prosecuted some of the suspects recently, they are going to jail and the standard is that; they will compensate the farmers and pay the government fines as an alternative to going to jail. Initially, we used to have up to 5,000 petitions on the herdsmen destroying farmers farms but we now have less than 100 even as low as 10. So, the law is very much effective in Ondo State.”

In Lagos State Government, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, told one of our correspondents that unlike other states in the region, Lagos was not affected by grazing problems, saying, “One thing you must know is that Lagos is not a state that has the kind of grazing problem that other states have.”

In Ogun State, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr Lekan Adeniran, maintained that the implementation of the anti-open grazing law was the responsibility of the police and other security agencies, noting that it was their duty to enforce any law made by the government.

Meanwhile, Afenifere has called on the six governors from the region to facilitate an immediate enforcement of the anti-grazing law.

The group explained that enforcing the already enacted anti-grazing laws would stop the incessant invasion of the cattle herders who often fed their cattle with the crops and farm produce of farmers.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, the six governors of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ekiti States were urged to commit their pledge to the establishment of cattle ranches across the region, saying it would represent “the inimitable values of the Yoruba as a people embedded with the mechanism to resolve even the most difficult of issues with irrepressible ease.”

The statement partly read, “The Afénifére enjoins the six governors of the South-West to, at some point, make a definite pledge to commit to the establishment of cattle ranches across all Yoruba speaking states.

“Also in the same guise, and as a matter of urgency, our governors must do more to protect our farmers, subsistence and commercial, from being preyed upon by the so called “cattle-grazers”, whose intent are very doubtful, and from there mode of operation, are often killers of our people.”
PUNCH

News

Alleged Christian Genocide: APC Requests To Testify At US Congress

Published

8 minutes ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in the United States has requested to testify at the US House Subcommittee on Africa today (Thursday).

This is as American lawmakers review former President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, CPC, over alleged religious persecution.

APC USA, in a letter to the Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Chris Smith, said it was prepared to send a high-level delegation to present what it described as “firsthand intelligence and verifiable data” on Nigeria’s security realities.

Chairman of the APC USA, Prof Tai Balofin, confirmed the request in a statement in Abuja, saying the group hoped to provide clarity on what it views as misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s security challenges.

Fear grips Nigerians as terrorists go on rampage, target large gatherings
“We support religious freedom for all Nigerians, but narratives abroad often fail to reflect the full complexity of the crisis.

“The insecurity in Nigeria is driven by banditry, resource conflict, climate pressures and transnational crime-not solely by religious persecution. Congress deserves the complete picture before reaching conclusions,” he said.

According to him, the proposed testimony would also highlight what the group sees as security gains under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The APC USA delegation also plans to recommend deeper US–Nigeria cooperation on security, intelligence sharing and humanitarian support.

The call for testimony comes shortly after Nigeria criticised the United States for excluding it from a UN event hosted by American rapper Nicki Minaj, which focused on alleged killings of Nigerians from a particular faith group.

News

Foundation Holds School Debate In Benin To Address Negative Narrative About Education

Published

13 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Osahon Enabulele Foundation, (DOEF), has given reason for organising interschool secondary schools debate in Edo State, saying it was “conceived to tackle the negative narrative surrounding the value of education among the younger generation.”

The Director—General of the foundation, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, stated this at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the debate held in Benin on Wednesday.

The competition, titled: “If education is a scam or not” was informed by the social-economic reality with students demonstrating impressive intellectual competition and depth.

Enabulele stressed that the debate was aimed at promoting intellectual development, encouraging civic engagement and public speaking, and fostering leadership qualities and critical thinking.

He added that the foundation, established nine months ago, was driven by strategic pillars that include leadership and governance, health, education, policy advocacy and social philanthropy.

According to him, many young people are becoming disillusioned by society’s “defective role modelling” and the “unfortunate reward for individuals with questionable sources of wealth,”

He said, “The debate is totally driven by the Foundation as a deliberate interventionist initiative that seeks to reverse the worrisome negative narrative about education, particularly amongst our upcoming generations, including our youths who are increasingly becoming victims of our society’s defective role modelling and unfortunate reward for individuals with very questionable sources of wealth, with leadership and societal positions. Our younger ones are truly becoming disillusioned as a result of these inanities.

“Some no longer think it is worthwhile to acquire education or task their brains in any way. This debate initiative is therefore our Foundation’s committed efforts to contribute to the reversal of this worrisome trend and mindset affliction.”

The interschool debate saw Eghosa Grammar School clinching the N1m star prize while other winners were also presented with a certificate of participation, books and other sundry items.

The outstanding speakers during the debate also went home with cash prizes ranging from N100,000 to N200, 000.

News

Trump’s Military Threat: ‘Poor Man Is Already A Sinner’ – Shehu Sani

Published

15 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has criticised United States President Donald Trump’s approach to global relations, alleging a double standard in the way he engages with different regions of the world.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Sani said Trump had secured a trillion-dollar deal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and consistently defended the kingdom, while raising issues of human rights, terrorism and religious persecution only when dealing with African leaders.

According to him, no African, European or Latin American nation could offer Trump the kind of financial leverage that oil-rich Arab states provide.

Sani’s remarks come amid Trump’s recent threat of military action in Nigeria over allegations of Christian genocide.

The former lawmaker argued that in a materially driven world, “a poor man is already a sinner,” suggesting that economic power continues to shape international attitudes and interventions.

He wrote: “Mr Trump got a deal of a trillion dollar from Bin Salman and defended everything about Saudi Arabia. No African, European or Latin American country can give him that.

“When they are talking with oil rich Arab countries, issues of human rights, executions, terrorism and religion doesn’t come up, until they meet with African leaders and start asking them where they learned ‘how to speak English’. In a material World, a poor man is already a sinner.”