State Security In Nigeria

ADOPTION OF ANTI-OPEN GRAZING PROHIBITION LAW IN BENUE STATE: CHALLENGES AND ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

ADOPTION OF ANTI-OPEN GRAZING PROHIBITION LAW IN BENUE STATE: CHALLENGES AND ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

Abstract

Communal and ethnic conflicts have been endemic in Benue state and these have underdeveloped the state. In addition, pastoralism in the state faces challenges and these hampers the productivity that consequentially affect the state economy and Nigeria at large.In order to find a lasting solution to farmers-herdsmen crisis, Benue State House of Assemblyconsidersit necessary to enact a law prohibiting open grazing.Before the enactment of the law, economic activities particularly farming were badly affected in parts of Benue State as the people

Weak states are those that either do not, or cannot, provide human security. Moreover, this very weakness may lead political elites into a vicious cycle that further weakens their security and that of their people. In an attempt to increase their own security, governing elites amass the trappings of power, by investing heavily in military hardware or using repressive tactics. But diversion of money away from their people’s needs or massive repression (although sometimes effective in the short term) tends to lead (a typical example is the current case of Dasuki and armed deal struggle of the Buhari administration) in the long term to greater discontent among the populace and increased vulnerability for the elite. Hence, theBenue State Assembly considered it necessary, having the political will, boldness,demonstrated courage, and determination to introduce the Anti-Open Grazing and Establishment of Ranches Bill which enjoyed accelerated legislative attention and massive support from within and outside the state.This was in effort to bring lasting peace between farmers and herders topromote peace, security, economic development and national unity in the

Implementation challenges.

e. Economic prospects.

f. Recommendation.

g. Conclusion.

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS

The concepts ofgrazing, anti-grazing, open-grazing, open-rearing, conflicts, herdsmen, livestocks, herding, rustling and landgrabbing are briefly explained as follows:

Grazing: According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, International Student’s Eighth Edition, grazing is a piece of land with grass that cows, sheep, etcfeeds upon. It is also a method of feeding in whicha herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae.

Open-Grazing: According to the law (Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017) means the act of pasturing livestock to feed on dry grass, growing grass, shrubs, herbage, farm crops, etc, in open fields without any form of restriction.

Open-Rearing: According to the law, itmeans the unfettered breeding and raising of animals.

Anti-Grazing: Means the act of preventing pasturing livestock to feed on dry grass, growing grass, shrubs, herbage, farm crops, etc, in open fields without any form of