By SundiataPOST, Abuja
The Ogun State Government on Tuesday announced a ban on cattle rearing along the Abeokuta -Sagamu-Siun Expressway.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, announced the ban in Abeokuta at a meeting with leaders of the Fulani/Hausa communities in the state.
Adeoluwa said the step was part of measures to check criminal activities in the axis.
He noted that there had been a sudden rise in criminal activities in recent times in the area, adding: “most of these unwholesome developments were linked to herdsmen operating on the highway.”
He said the area had been reserved for industrial development.
“This is the area we are looking at to develop as our prime industrial corridor and it will not be nice if our brothers from the North are spoiling that industrial corridor with their cattle rearing activities.”
The SSG noted that the government had maintained cordial relationship with various ethnic groups and nationalities residing in the state, and enjoined the herdsmen to transact their businesses in the designated grazing areas. Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, said rearing and grazing of cattle along the axis was a deviation from the set standards, stressing that the act would not be condoned.
He, therefore, urged the Fulani/Hausa leaders to constantly educate their people on the need to be law abiding.
Responding, the Head of the Fulani Community in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, commended the state government for providing an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
He noted that criminal activities along the axis were a recurring event.
He, however gave an assurance that the people of the state would continue to cooperate with the government to check criminal activities in the state.
