Oyo Assembly moves to tackle persistent insecurity, agricultural challenges

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday called for post-legislative scrutiny of two critical laws aimed at curbing open grazing, reducing farmer-herder conflicts, and enhancing state-wide security.

It expressed concerns over the poor implementation of the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law and the Oyo State Security Network Agency Law, which established the Amotekun Corps, amid the ongoing security challenges in the country.

Speaking on Thursday, April 16, during its plenary sitting on a motion presented on his behalf by the Chief Whip of the House, Honorable Gbenga Oyekola, Speaker Debo Ogundoyin emphasized the urgent need to revisit and strengthen the enforcement of these laws to address persistent security and agricultural challenges across the state.

The Speaker, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, lamented that despite the passage of the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law in October 2019 and the establishment of the Amotekun Corps under the Oyo State Security Network Agency Law in March 2020, issues such as manpower shortages, poor sensitization, and lack of clear reporting structures have continued to hinder their effectiveness.

“As we pioneer the Post-Legislative Scrutiny Unit in the Oyo State House of Assembly, I decided to come up with this motion as its first assignment and responsibility. With this, we remain committed to ensuring that every law passed serves its intended purpose and responds to emerging challenges,” Ogundoyin said.

He noted that the development would include wider consultations with stakeholders, including farmers’ associations, herder groups, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the leadership of the Amotekun Corps, with the goal of identifying legal gaps, addressing ambiguities, and proposing necessary amendments.

The Speaker also urged the Executive Arm of Government, through relevant ministries, to scale up public awareness campaigns and ensure the Amotekun Corps are adequately equipped and empowered to enforce the laws effectively.

In addition, the House mandated its Committees on Security and Strategy, Agriculture, and Rural Development to investigate the operational challenges facing law enforcement and propose strategic interventions to improve statewide security coordination.