The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has expressed concern that the Federal Government is still pushing for the implementation of the National Grazing Reserves Council Bill, which he believes is an attempt to take over land and subjugate Nigerians.
He called on the National Assembly to reject the bill and any other attempts to harm innocent Nigerians.
The statement read in part, “Governor Ortom finds it curious that since 2016, the Presidency has sent the Grazing Reserves Bill to the National Assembly, bearing different names, and despite the public outcry, it is not giving up the idea of having the bill passed.
“In November 2016, the Senate rejected the controversial bill seeking to establish a Grazing Management Agency, which was to ensure the creation of cattle grazing areas across the country.
“In 2017, the Federal Government again tried to influence the passage of a bill adorning the same regalia which was called National Grazing Routes and Reserves Bill. That bill was similarly rejected following the alarm raised by some patriotic Nigerians.
“The government subsequently introduced the National Water Resources Bill, which also came with a singular objective of bringing all water sources (surface and underground) and river banks under the control of the Federal Government, a move that attracted an avalanche of condemnations from Nigerians.
“The Federal Government introduced Ruga, Cattle Colonies and several other programmes, all aimed at creating settlements for pastoralists in all the states of the federation. It is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom was the first to speak out against the draconian bills.
“In August 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved recommendations of a committee to review ‘with dispatch, 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, and to determine the levels of encroachment.’ Again, Benue and other states rejected the presidential approval and the idea eventually lost steam.
“We understand that those who are bent on taking over the ancestral lands of Nigerians to give to pastoralists are looking for the opportunity to hastily pass the bill which they have now renamed as National Grazing Reserves Council Bill. The proposed law has been in the National Assembly after it was reintroduced, and its sponsors, sensing the mood and suspicions of the people, have been trying to find the right moment to have it passed.
“If passed by the National Assembly, the law will establish a council with the powers to take over land in any part of the country for grazing reserves and pay ‘compensation’ to the land owner(s). Beneficiaries of the usurped land will be pastoralists whose animals will enjoy unfettered access to the land.”
