By Grace Chigbu
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has shown strong support for the ban on open grazing, stating that his administration will enforce the law if it was previously passed by the Abia State House of Assembly.
Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia dûring his monthly media chat, Governor Otti directed his Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters to present the documents related to the anti-open grazing law allegedly passed during the last administration.
“Let’s be sure it was passed. If it was, then we will take it up from there,” he said.
Otti made it clear that he firmly believes in stopping open grazing, which often results in the destruction of farmlands.
“I am an apostle of anti-open grazing. I believe we’ve gone beyond carrying cows and destroying people’s farms,” he added.
He emphasized the need for modern ranching methods and criticized outdated herding practices, saying that modern cow breeds no longer require wandering.
In the same address, the governor revealed that the gunmen who killed two Chinese nationals in the state last month came from Ebonyi State, and that suspects have been arrested as investigations continue.
He also announced that President Bola Tinubu would visit Abia State before May 29, and reported a significant reduction in the state’s inherited debt — from ₦138 billion to ₦66 billion, thanks to what he described as fiscal discipline.
