The Ondo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of a cattle market opened by a faction of Akure Cattle Dealers Association in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, gave the order during a meeting with the association.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Akure by Mr Bolu Ajijo, the Head of Information Unit in the ministry.
Adefarati also directed law enforcement agencies to arrest anybody or cattle found in the vicinity of the illegal market.
“It is an affront for anybody or group to set up or establish a market of any sort anywhere in the state without the prior knowledge and approval of the authority concerns.
“In the case of cattle market or ranch, the Ministry of Agriculture has the sole authority in collaboration with its Lands counterpart.
“Setting up an abattoir, cattle markets and ranches in the state require some technicalities because of the health and security implications of such actions and not just be done by hunches,” he said.
He said the state government would not allow any other agricultural activities at Ogbesse and Uso axis already earmarked for large scale farming because of the volatility of the zone
The commissioner said that before now, the ogbese – Uso axis was notorious for perennial clashes between farmers and herders.
He added that setting up a cattle market in a volatile zone would further worsen the security situation in the area.
On the grievances of the Hausa/Shau cattle dealers faction, the commissioner promised that the government would urgently look into them in order to provide an enabling environment for cattle business to thrive in the state.
Earlier, Mr Segun Odunsanya, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, frowned at the action of the faction, vowing that government would not hesitate to visit a full weight of the law on them.
According to him, because of the health and security implications, government has outlawed open and illegal abattoir operations in the state.
“To ensure standards and in line with the best global best practices, the state government has established a modern abattoir with full complements and veterinary offices in almost all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state which are well staffed,” he said.
