A’Ibom govt to establish compliance team to enforce anti-grazing law

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has ordered the establishment of a compliance team to enforce the anti-grazing law.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong who stated this in a press statement, added that the directive was one of the decisions the State Executive Council reached after their meeting on Wednesday in Uyo.

“The report of compliance with Anti-Open grazing Law was presented and EXCO directed that a Special Compliance Unit be inaugurated to ensure total compliance,” he said.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, had on September 15, 2021, signed into law a bill to prohibit open rearing and grazing and provide for the establishment of ranches in the state.

While signing the bill into law, the governor promised to ensure that anyone whose livestock strays into another person’s farm or property, no matter how highly placed, would be made to face the full weight of the anti-open livestock grazing law of the state.

The government has also directed that all illegal trading outlets on streets and roads in the state should be dismantled to check the menace of street trading.

According to Ememobong, government ordered that a sensitization and engagement programme to ensure voluntary compliance should be carried out for two weeks before the enforcement and prosecution of defaulters begins.

He said, “The menace of street trading, illegal markets and the attendant risks came up for discussion and council directed that the Ministry of Environment and Security agencies should take steps to immediately dismantle all illegal trading outlets on streets and roads in the state.

“However, a two weeks moratorium was granted to allow for sensitization and engagement with relevant stakeholders, to ensure voluntary compliance. At the expiration of the two weeks (effective 21st October 2021) defaulters are to be arrested and prosecuted.”