TheCable

Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina state, says open grazing is un-Islamic and not the best for herders.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Katsina, Masari said the needed infrastructure should be provided for the herders so that they do not move cattle by foot.

The governor’s comments come days after the resolution of southern governors to ban open grazing.

Also, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said President Muhammadu Buhari wants the ranching of cattle and an end to open grazing.

But Shehu had initially said the governors’ proposed plan to enforce the ban is of “questionable legality” and a show of power. The statement evoked reactions from Nigerians — with some condemning it.

Masari said the movement of livestock “is part of the problems we are having today”.

“This is something we have to do through development, to provide necessary infrastructure that will prevent herders from moving,” he said.

“The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things: water and fodder. If we can provide these two items, why should they move?

“The roaming about, for us, is un-Islamic and it is not the best. It is part of the problems we are having today. I don’t support [the idea] that we should continue with open grazing.”

Masari said he is in support of giving more constitutional power to the states.

“I support devolution totally. The federal government is trying but the states need to have resources to implement what should have been implemented by the federal government,” the governor said.

“If today the states will support the police, the police system will go up. If the states withdraw their support to security agencies, they won’t be able to move from here to there.”