News
Herders adamant, Southern govs fail to enforce anti-open grazing law
Despite the resolve of the governors of the 17 states in southern Nigeria to ban open grazing of cattle and other animals in their states due to escalating attacks on farmers and other residents by suspected herdsmen, the states appear to have developed cold feet in implementing laws passed and assented to for that purpose.
The governors, who met in Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, said the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country had presented a severe security challenge such that citizens were no longer able to live their normal lives.
“We resolve that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria; noted that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot),” the governors stated in a communiqué at the end of the meeting.
The 12-point communiqué was read by the Chairman of the forum and Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The southern governors set a deadline for their respective state Houses of Assembly to pass anti-open grazing law to give effect to the ban.
In February 2021, Ondo State announced the ban on open grazing, while Ogun State announced plans to pass the anti-open grazing law. Open grazing has also been banned in Oyo State.
The six South-East governors announced the ban of open grazing and urged security agencies to enforce it in the states during the launch of the Ebubeagu security outfit last April.
However, the implementation of the ban appears to become very challenging. While some of the states have yet to pass the anti-open grazing law, those who have passed the law seem disinterested in enforcing it.
Edo Assembly passes anti-open grazing bill
For instance, the Edo State House of Assembly only passed the bill for a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle and regulate other livestock in the state on Wednesday.
The motion to dissolve the House into a committee of the whole was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Roland Asoro, and seconded by the member representing Esan North East 1, Francis Okiye.
Considering the bill clause by clause at the committee of the whole, the lawmakers passed relevant sections with amendments to sections 5(7) and 5(8).
The amendment to section 5 (7) states that a ranch committee to be constituted by the governor shall determine the size of the land suitable for ranching in conjunction with the community where the ranch is proposed.
Section 5 (8) was also amended to read that the committee shall control the activities of cattle herdsmen within the various communities.
Section eight, however, prohibits open grazing in the state.
Section 9(1) of the bill empowered the state governor to designate a land for ranching.
Section 9(2) stated that an owner of a piece of land shall apply to the committee in writing of his intention to operate a ranch with his land.
The Speaker, Marcus Onobun, thereafter directed the clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to give the bill its third reading and forward clean copies to the governor for his assent.
Meanwhile, the House has received copies of the constitution alteration bills, Fifth Alteration Bill, 2022 for consideration.
Absence of monitoring task force stalls enforcement in Delta
The Delta State Government has said it is still sensitising relevant stakeholders ahead of the full implementation of the law that bans the open grazing of animals in the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had signed the anti-open grazing bill into law on September 30, 2021, and inaugurated the Delta Livestock Management Committee in January 2022 with a mandate to carry out sensitisation for three months.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olise Ifejika, said Okowa had set up the committee to enforce the ban on opening grazing.
“Governor Okowa has set up the committee and it is left for the committee to enforce the law. Beyond the committee, the police and other security agents, who are members of the committee, will be in a better position to know more about the enforcement,” he said.
But, the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture /Natural Resources and Chairman, Delta Livestock Management Committee, Mr Julius Egbedi, said the committee was in the process of inaugurating a monitoring task force.
“We have not made any arrest; we are in the process of inaugurating a monitoring task force that will be combing the bush.”
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ali, had stated when the committee visited him that the biggest task was the enforcement of the law, noting that the police could not do it alone.
The Ogun State Government has said it will commence the implementation of the anti-open grazing law in April.
Governor Dapo Abiodun had last year September assented to the bill after the state House of Assembly passed it.
The governor had announced six months’ grace period, which will expire at the end of March for herders to stop open grazing in any part of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications, Remmy Hazzan, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday while explaining why the government had yet to enforce the law.
He said the government would wait till when the grace period would lapse to begin the enforcement of the law.
Hassan stated, “We are supposed to start by March; the governor said six months’ grace would be given.
“So, it will start by April. The grace period will lapse at the end of March, so enforcement will begin in April and I am sure that Amotekun and the police are working out the formula to use.”
He added that the government would adopt a persuasive method and not rely on confrontation to enforce the law.
Hassan added, “There is going to be more of moral suasion and not necessarily face-to-face confrontation, because at the end of the day, whether we like it or not, these are people who are resident in Ogun State.
“So, we will be wise with it; it (grace period) ends by March ending, enforcement should start in April.”
C’River anti-grazing law new, says Ayade’s aide
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Christian Ita, said the governor had just signed the anti-grazing bill into law and agencies have to study the law for proper enforcement.
“Is it up to two weeks after Ayade signed the Anti-Grazing Law? Agencies have to study the law. The law allows only trucks to move livestock within the state. It prohibits open grazing which causes farmers/herders’ clashes. Of course there are penalties for those who flout it,” he said.
We’ll do more to enforce law – Ekiti commissioner
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Akin Omole, has said that the state will do more in the enforcement of its law which banned open grazing.
Omole, who said the anti-open grazing law was being enforced in the state at present, said, “The law is in place and we are carrying out the implementation. If it is not fully implemented, it is not that the law does not exist.
“In Ekiti, there is no difficulty in implementing the law. The police and some other agencies of government are really in charge of the implementation. The government has taken the right step by ensuring there is a law against it, so, if those people in charge of law enforcement are not doing enough, it is not about the government.
“We are implementing it; you can always point our attention to areas we can do more and we will be glad to receive counsel, but the law is in place. We will do more in implementing it and in enforcing it; do not think the law is just for the shelves, we are on it.”
‘Herders, farmers’ clashes have reduced in Abia’
In Abia State, the incidence of farmers and herders’ clashes has been reduced due to the proactive nature of the state government and the state House of Assembly in passing the anti-open grazing law.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof Ikechi Mgboji, the state government is not finding it difficult enforcing the law as the relation between it and herders has become cordial as the latter have restricted open grazing activities in accordance with the law.
Mgboji stated, “The law has been passed but it has to do with the mechanism of implementation. It is not what the police regularly do.
“Of course, the other problem associated with the arrest of the herders is that arrests are done by the police and when arrested, the herders will be detained, but then, how will the animals be detained?
“If you watch carefully, the activities of herdsmen have drastically reduced in the state.”
PUNCH
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reassured the public that safety remains the overriding priority of Enugu Air following Thursday’s runway excursion involving one of the airline’s aircraft at Benin Airport.
Reacting to the incident for the first time in a statement personally signed on Friday, the governor expressed sympathy with the passengers and crew members on board the aircraft, while thanking God that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
The Embraer E170 aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin, experienced a runway excursion after landing at Benin Airport on Thursday.
Mbah said the state government was closely monitoring the situation and pledged full cooperation with aviation authorities investigating the incident.
“The Enugu State Government is aware of the incident of a runway excursion affecting Enugu Air, Embraer E170, Flight 4264, operating into Benin Airport from Lagos on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
“The government empathises with the 63 passengers and five crew members on board the aircraft over the traumatic experience and is thankful to God that no life was lost and no injuries have so far been reported,” the governor said.
He commended the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) for swiftly launching an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, assuring that Enugu Air would cooperate fully with investigators and relevant regulatory agencies.
“The government commends the swiftness of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in embarking on the ongoing investigation to determine the circumstances and factors that may have led to the incident. The government will ensure the full cooperation of its going concern, Enugu Air, with the investigation and regulatory authorities,” Mbah stated.
While urging the public to await the outcome of the investigation, the governor maintained that the airline operates under stringent safety protocols that place passenger welfare above commercial interests.
“While the outcome of the investigation is awaited, the government assures the public that the operations of Enugu Air are guided by the highest safety standards. The airline is founded on a corporate culture that places safety above profit and schedule, and its quality assurance and quality control systems stipulate a safety threshold that is considerably higher than the industry benchmark,” he said.
Mbah said the airline’s uncompromising safety culture had contributed significantly to the growing confidence and patronage it had enjoyed since commencing operations.
“This accounts for the growing confidence and patronage the airline has continued to enjoy from both passengers and industry stakeholders. Enugu Air will therefore continue to serve its teeming customers and abide by its utmost commitment to safety, professionalism, and a sense of hospitality,” he added.
The governor also expressed appreciation to Nigerians for the widespread support and goodwill shown to the airline in the aftermath of the incident, noting that many passengers had continued to share positive experiences about flying with Enugu Air.
“We wish to express our profound gratitude to Nigerians for the outpouring of solidarity since the unfortunate incident. Quite uncommonly, Nigerians have continued to share their positive experiences with Enugu Air since it was launched a year ago. This matters so much to us as a government at this time,” Mbah said.
The runway excursion involving the state-owned carrier has drawn national attention. However, with all 63 passengers and five crew members safely evacuated, attention has now shifted to the outcome of the ongoing investigation by aviation authorities.
Amupitan gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd.), at his residence in Minna, Niger State, on Friday.
The commission’s chairman led a delegation comprising National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors and his technical aides.
Amupitan described Abubakar as “the father of democracy in Nigeria”, noting that his transition to civilian rule in 1999 marked a defining moment in the country’s democratic history.
The INEC chairman said the commission regarded the former Head of State “not merely as a statesman but as a pillar of support for INEC.”
He also commended Abubakar’s role as Chairman of the National Peace Committee, describing its Peace Accord initiative as “a moralising influence on Nigeria’s political ecosystem.”
According to INEC, Amupitan said the initiative had provided political actors with a platform to commit to non-violence, thereby strengthening “the sovereignty of the will of the Nigerian people.”
The INEC chairman told Abubakar that, regardless of the pressures confronting the commission, it remained committed to ensuring that the will of Nigerians as expressed at the polls would prevail.
He said, “The Commission’s determination under my leadership was to see ordinary Nigerians go out and vote, confident that their votes would be duly counted and reflected in the outcome of elections,” describing this as “the core assurance INEC owed the electorate.”
Amupitan also formally confirmed the dates for the 2027 general elections.
According to INEC, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
Abubakar, in turn, called on Nigerians to support INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on (Information & Strategy) Bayo Onanuga says, “this approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”According to the statement, “the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.”Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases.
The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) worldwide, a pan-Igbo socioeconomic pressure group, has urged the Federal Government to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to supply Dangote Petroleum Refinery adequate crude.
The Chairman of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while reacting to Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s move to start direct sales of refined Petroleum products in dollars.
It would be recalled that a top management official of the Dangote Group said that its refinery was receiving just four million barrels of crude oil monthly under the arrangement, instead of about 13 million barrels envisaged after President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 directive.
The refinery had attributed its decision to switch from naira-denominated fuel sales domestically to dollar transactions to the crude supply shortfall, saying it would also increase exports of refined petroleum products to earn foreign exchange.
Chukwudum called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently before things get out of hand and Nigerians suffer the more.
According to him, fuel price remains major determinant of prices of other commodities and services in the country as transport cost depends on.
“Things are bound to get worst if the Federal Government neglect to take immediate and decisive actions meant to better the life of the citizens.
“NUF is rasing this alarm because this administration is behaving as if they are not answerable to the people their are supposed to be serving.
“The Federal Government should direct NNPCL to supply all the crude oil needed by Dangote Refinery since the company has the capacity to meet local or domestic petroleum needs of the country.
“The government must stop all forms of fuel importation because that money been used for importation is a waste and put a pressure on our fragile foreign reserve as a nation,” he said.
The NUF boss noted that the refinery company must be allowed to pay in naira with this move, suffering of citizens would be curtailed.
Chukwudum also reiterated the call of the group for the Federal Government to set up judicial panel of inquiry to look into the account of NNPCL for some years now.
A commotion reportedly erupted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State after some officials were accused of demanding ₦2,000 from applicants before processing voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The allegation surfaced in a video circulating on social media, which showed what appeared to be a heated confrontation between applicants and officials at the electoral commission’s office.
According to a resident who narrated the incident in the video, some INEC officials allegedly insisted that applicants pay ₦2,000 before their voter registration or PVC processing could be completed.
The situation reportedly escalated when one of the applicants challenged the alleged demand, insisting that voter registration and PVC-related services are free and should not attract any payment.
The applicant was said to have confronted the officials and attempted to record the exchange with a mobile phone, triggering a heated argument that attracted other applicants and bystanders.
Although raised voices and a commotion could be heard in the footage, the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
The video has since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the alleged extortion and calling on INEC to investigate the incident and sanction anyone found culpable.
INEC has consistently maintained that voter registration services are free of charge. These include fresh registration, collection of PVCs, transfer of voter information, correction of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The commission has also repeatedly urged members of the public to report any cases of extortion, bribery or illegal charges involving its permanent or ad hoc staff during voter registration and PVC distribution.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement specifically addressing the allegations involving its Onitsha South Local Government Area office.
The incident comes as the electoral commission continues its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC has also introduced an online self-service platform to enable prospective voters and existing registrants to complete several registration-related processes conveniently, while reiterating that voter registration services remain free of charge.
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