Renowned lawyer and public commentator Kenneth Okonkwo has called for the swift implementation of an anti-grazing law, stressing the need for immediate action to regulate pastoralist activities. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Okonkwo emphasized that the law is not intended to eliminate pastoralism but to organize it in a manner that benefits both herders and the wider community.
"In this modern time, an anti-grazing law should not only be immediate but should be immediately done and agreed upon by everybody," Okonkwo stated. He clarified that the proposed legislation is not a ban on pastoralism but rather a framework to ensure that herding practices do not become a public nuisance.
A screenshot of Kenneth Okonkwo from a video clip released by Arise Television on their X handle
"They didn't say they're banning you from being a pastoralist," he explained. "They simply said that you should organize it in a manner that those children will be tending to their animals and going to school, and it is not constituting a nuisance to the people and themselves."
Okonkwo highlighted the detrimental effects of traditional grazing methods on the animals, the herders, and the community at large. "Even the animals themselves don't come out better when they do all those trekking," he noted, explaining the need for a modern approach to animal husbandry that is both humane and efficient.
Click the link below to watch the video clip. Start watching from 3:25 to 4:25