Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has on Monday, assented to the bill prohibiting Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle on Land.
Governor sanwo-Olu signed the legislation into law 11 days after it was unanimously passed by the State House of Assembly and transmitted to the Executive arm for authorisation.
With this development, it is now criminal in Lagos for cattle rearers to occupy unapproved public areas and private land with their livestock for grazing.
The law also prohibits the act of moving cattle round public places by herders.
The signing of the anti-open grazing law by the Governor was premised on the decision of Southern Governors’ Forum last August, where September was set as deadline to pass the law across member States.
Before now,there have been crises in some States, allegedly caused by open grazing.
Farmer-herder crisis seem not to be rampant in Lagos but the anti-open grazing law will help to guard against the menace in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who assented to the bill during the State’s Executive Council meeting in Alausa, directed the security agencies to swing into action and enforce provisions of the law.
He stated: “By the powers vested in me as the Governor of Lagos State, I am signing the bill on Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle on Land into law to prohibit issues associated with open grazing of livestock.”
In a related development, the Governor also signed legislation transforming the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) into a full-blown agency.
This development coincided with the commemorative month dedicated to raising awareness on gender-based violence in the State.
The Governor and members of the State’s cabinet wore attire with purple shades to support the campaign against sexual violence.
The DSVRT legislation provides for the establishment of Sexual Offenders’ Register that would help the State efficiently tackle violations in the communities.
After signing the law, governor Sanwo-Olu said: “Raising awareness about domestic and sexual violence is an important piece of working to end the cycle of violence. It is important to reiterate the State Government’s zero tolerance to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We will not rest on our oars until the menace is reduced to the barest minimum in Lagos.”
The Governor also appointed Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi as the Executive Secretary of the new agency.
Vivour-Adeniyi was the coordinator of the response team before the legislation was signed into law.
