Ekiti State Prohibits Night Grazing, Cautions Herdsmen Against Disrupting Agricultural Projects

The Ekiti State Government has introduced a ban on night grazing and issued a stern warning to herders against allowing their cattle to damage agricultural investments in the state. This decision is part of a larger strategy to protect food security and boost agricultural development. The move follows growing concerns about the impact of cattle on farms, which threatens the state’s agricultural progress.

During a stakeholders’ meeting of the Ekiti State Farmers/Herders Peace Committee, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Ebenezer Ogundana, emphasized the seriousness of the new measures. Ogundana, a retired Brigadier General, warned that violators of the night grazing ban would face legal consequences. He specifically cautioned against underage herding and highlighted that such practices had previously caused conflicts between farmers and herders.

The peace committee, established in 2023 under Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, aims to foster peaceful coexistence. To support these efforts, Ekiti State has reinforced its anti-grazing law and set regulations on herding practices.

The government has also established farm settlements and deployed an Agro-Task Force to protect farmland. Local coordinators have been appointed to monitor the committee’s work and ensure compliance at the grassroots level.