The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday began the consideration of the National Grazing Reserves Bill, which seeks to establish grazing reserves for pastoralists in the country.
The senate had earlier denied it received the bill, amid intense opposition from its members and many Nigerians.
The bill, which had earlier been presented at the House of Representatives, passed the first reading in the senate ant it is sponsored by Rabiu Kwankwoso, former state governor representing Kano Central Senatorial District.
The House of Representatives’ version, which is being sponsored by a Kogi lawmaker, Sunday Karim, passed the second reading as at March.
However, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is one of the senators opposed to the bill, said on Wednesday that the legislation was “dead on arrival”.
Abaribe had in April kicked against the bill and sought to confirm whether it was indeed before the senate, but the senate president, Bukola Saraki, told him no such bill existed.
The bill came amid recent spate of clashes between herdsmen and farmers mostly in southern and central parts of the country with many Nigerians opposing any plan to create grazing reserves in the middle and southern parts of the country.
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