The Ekiti State Government has enforced a ban on underage herding and night grazing across the state as part of efforts to protect farmers and boost food production.
According to The PUNCH, theSpecial Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.) made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Ekiti State Farmers’/Herders’ Peace Committee in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
He warned herders to prevent their livestock from destroying farms, emphasizing that such actions undermine the government’s investments in agriculture.
Ogundana stated, “The Anti-Grazing Law, passed by the State House of Assembly, prohibits grazing at night, underage herding, and grazing on farmlands. Anyone found violating these laws will face legal consequences.”
The ban is part of an ongoing effort to foster peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.
According to Ogundana, “The Herders/Farmers Peace Committee, inaugurated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in 2023, serves as a platform for both groups to resolve conflicts and maintain harmony.”
In addition to enforcing the Anti-Grazing Law, Ogundana urged traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and representatives from both the farming and herding communities to establish dialogue to build mutual understanding and reduce tensions.
Ekiti’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, highlighted the state’s commitment to agricultural development, noting that Governor Oyebanji plans to invest significantly in the sector by 2025.
“This year alone, the government has invested over N2 billion in agriculture. Protecting farmers and their farmlands is crucial to ensuring that these investments yield results,” Boluwade said.
The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, praised the government’s efforts to ensure security and called on traditional rulers to enhance community safety by establishing vigilante groups to protect local areas.
Representing the traditional rulers, the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, urged security agencies to remain vigilant and support the government’s initiatives to maintain peace and security across the state.
