Bayelsa State Livestock Management Committee has issued a 14-days ultimatum to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); alongside other operators to move their livestock out of Yenagoa, the State capital, and its environs.
This was disclosed on Monday in an interview with journalists by the Chairman of the 23-man Committee and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, after a meeting between the committee and some south chapter of the MACBAN at the ministry.
Alagoa warned that at expiration of the notice, if they still found cattles roaming around, the committee would seize their cows, and movement by foot either at night or in the day, would not be tolerated in the State.
He urged residents to be calm as talks with MACBAN was ongoing, and the process of the taking cows out of Bayelsa has just begun.
The Commissioner noted that the government had created opportunities in the meat business for people to take advantage of, and establish ranches or grow grass to sell for cattle breeders.
“So we have agreed that we give them a moratorium period of 10days and by the 14th day, which falls on the 10th of April, we will start pounding (cows).
“If you are interested in cattle business in Bayelsa, the government has opened up business opportunities of high value chain in the meat business. It is time now, if you have a land and you want to ranch, you can ranch, since we are going purely on ranching, if you want to plant grass and sell for cattle, you can sell,” he added.
Lolo Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News
