Senator representing Osun West in the Senate, Francis Fadahunsi, has shown his interest in the calls for legislation that would stop the movement of cattle across the country.
Fadahunsi said the permissive movements of cattle across the country, would sustain the clash between herders and farmers.
The Senator who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise said this while speaking to journalists on Wednesday.
He said it was time for a law by the parliament to address the issue to avert unnecessary bloodshed across the country.
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Recall that the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had last week, advised the National Assembly to consider enacting a law that would stop the movement of cows from the northern part of the country to other parts.
However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said such bill would be unconstitutional.
The Senate spokesperson said, “I don’t think such a law will be constitutional. Nigerians have the right to freedom of movement irrespective of the state of birth or nativity.”
But Fadahunsi in response to the position of the Senate spokesman said a law against the movement of cows was a law that would guarantee peace and save lives.
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He said, “The purpose of government is the security of lives and welfare of the citizens, and such law will save lives by avoiding conflicts between herders and farmers.
“This does not contradict the constitution. The freedom of movement is for citizens, human beings and not for cows.”
Fadahunsi said beyond a law that will stop the movement of cattle, there was a need for Nigeria’s borders to be adequately policed.
The lawmaker said there are extremely porous borders in the Northern part of the country through which armed militias come in from the Niger Republic, Mali, Chad, and other troubled African countries.
He advised the government to equip the military, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Customs Service for efficiency.
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