International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ Nigeria) has endorsed the Nigerian Senate’s bill banning open grazing and establishing the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission.

PSJ programme manager, Sam Odeh, who briefed journalists on Friday in Jos, said that the NGO had been following the recent conversations and events in the red chambers of the National Assembly.

The programme manager stated that the legislative initiative to regulate, manage, preserve, and control ranches throughout Nigeria was a welcome development.

He pointed out that in a nation where cultural and religious diversity enriches our society, it is imperative that all communities coexist peacefully.

Mr Odeh said that the persistent farmer-herder crisis has not only led to significant losses of lives and property but also threatened the very fabric of the country’s unity.

“PSJ wants to openly state that the Bill to Ban Open Grazing and the Establishment of the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission, sponsored by Sen. Titus Zam (APC/Benue West), is in the right direction and should be accepted by all citizens.

“The proposed bill offers a sustainable solution that aligns with PSJ Nigeria’s vision of a peaceful Nigeria where all communities thrive together.

“Enhancing food safety and economic growth, the benefits of ranching extend beyond resolving conflicts.

“Ranching ensures that cows are reared in controlled environments and produce healthier meat and milk for Nigerian consumers.

“This shift from open grazing to ranching promises to enhance food safety standards across the nation.

“Furthermore, the establishment of ranches is poised to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities for Nigerians, fostering a robust and sustainable agricultural sector,” he said.

According to him, the open grazing system has rendered 134,208 hectares of land in the central Nigeria region uncultivable, drastically reducing food crop production.

He emphasised that the Senate’s move to ban open grazing was a commendable step towards ensuring that agricultural lands were effectively utilised for food production.

Mr Odeh said that the move would not only mitigate food shortages but also stabilise the nation’s economy by bolstering agricultural output.

(NAN)