NASS urged to dump proposed National Grazing Reserve Bill

BENIN— Edo Forum of Patriots, EFP, has urged the National Assembly not to pass the proposed National Grazing Reserve Council Bill into law, saying it contradicts the Land Use Act which vested powers to allocate lands to the federal, state and local governments.



In a statement by its National President, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, the forum pointed out that it recognized that the intention of the proposed bill was to stop the wanton killings and avoidable destructions of lives and properties occasioned by the activities of rampaging herdsmen, but a thorough examination of the Bill as proposed, shows that it will create more problems and crises than it aimed to solve.

According to the statement, “As proposed, the Bill says the Chairman, Grazing Reserve Council, who will be appointed by the President, shall have powers to take over land anywhere in the country and then pay compensation to owners. Such lands shall be allocated to herdsmen for grazing purposes. This contradicts the provisions of the Land Use Act.”