Mr. Chris Nehikhare, its spokesman, disclosed this in Benin City in a press release on Tuesday.
Nehikhare said that the need for a law to prohibit open grazing was long overdue in Edo State “because of the persistent clashes between herders and farmers.”
“Our bill has been sent to the Edo state House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.”
“The law will prevent the destruction of farms and farm produce as well as protect lives and properties of farmers, their wives and children occasioned by open grazing.”
“The law will also protect the environment from degradation and pollution caused by open rearing and overgrazing of livestock.”
“It will also optimize the use of land resources in the face of overstretched land and increasing population, as well as maintain a healthy food security arrangement, ” he said.
He said that the law would encourage the establishment of ranches with the permission and approval of the state government.
He stated that EDO PDP researched the effectiveness on other states that had enacted similar laws.
According to him, the research enabled them to get first-hand information on the processes that culminated into the law and the way it was being implemented.
“The ultimate goal is to restore permanent peace in Edo. We have conferred with critical stakeholders in Edo and believe that we are on the same page in the quest for peace,” he said.
He urged the government, journalists and the civil society to support the move.
