In September 2021, Delta State enacted the Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law to curb farmer-herder clashes and encourage modern ranching. Despite these efforts, cattle continue to damage crops and wander public roads, leading residents to question the law’s practical impact.
Legal professionals point to a fundamental issue: the lack of control state governments have over the police. Dr. Eric Omare argues that while the law exists, institutional barriers and a lack of political commitment hinder its application across Nigeria. Because policing is centralized at the federal level, local enforcement remains disjointed.
Francis Avbenagha notes that the law has become largely symbolic. The State Police Command reported not receiving the legislation, and local government task forces remain largely unformed years after the bill’s passage. Furthermore, some officials allege that security agencies have actively disrupted attempts to implement the regulations.
Critics like Comrade Austin Ozobo describe the law as mere ceremonial protocol, arguing that current leadership has failed to prioritize the safety of farmers over political considerations. He notes that the persistent insecurity, including kidnappings and community attacks, has eroded public trust in the administration’s ability to protect lives and property.
To make the law effective, experts suggest that the government must provide clear guidelines to security agencies, secure adequate funding for task forces, and advocate for decentralized policing. Without consistent enforcement and a genuine political will to act, the legislation will continue to function as an empty gesture rather than a tool for agricultural reform.
