Senators fight over grazing land for Fulani herdsmen  L awmakers
in the upper chamber of the National Assembly are divided along
ethnic lines on the propriety of a bill seeking to create
grazing reserves and routes for Fulani nomads throughout the
country.  South-West, South-South, South-East and Middle Belt
senators are opposed to their colleagues from the far North on
the issue.  While socio-political groups in the South-West,
South-South, South-East and Middle Belt oppose the bill, the far
North support it, saying it will reduce constant clashes between
nomadic Fulani and host farmers.  The Senate, during its July 3,
2012 sitting, was sharply divided when the bill was discussed.
Among other provisions, the bill seeks to establish a National
Grazing Reserves Commission, which will have the power to
acquire land that will serve as grazing reserves and routes for
herdsmen in any part of the country.  Senators who opposed the
bill, said it negated the Land Use Act and the principle of
federalism. They argued