At the Ekiti State Executive Council virtual meeting held on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji chaired a major policy discussion aimed at addressing the ongoing herders and farmers crisis.
A major decision from the meeting was the approval of a bill to repeal the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Law No. 4 of 2016. The council has proposed a new legislation titled Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Law of 2025, which will be presented to the State House of Assembly for legislative review and passage.
According to Ekiti State government, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to curb grazing-related violence and create a legal framework for peaceful coexistence in rural communities.
The proposed bill introduces several new provisions. “The law will require that traditional rulers, chairmen of local governments, and the Governor must give approval before herders are settled in any part of the state,” official reports confirmed.
The new law also outlines procedures for the compulsory certification and registration of herdsmen intending to settle in Ekiti for grazing. It also clearly defines offences and penalties related to unguarded grazing of cattle and other ruminants.
This legislative move is aimed at improving land management, reducing conflicts, and ensuring safety and order in agrarian communities across Ekiti State.
