Nigeria's FCT in war as Senate order residents to slaughter any cow seen in the Capital City

Senator Dino Melaye

It will be recall that the Senate has warned cattle owners of grazing their cows in the Abuja metropolis but has refused to adhere to their distinct warnings and that of the Federal Capital Territory Authorities, the Senate, through its Committee on FCT, yesterday, asked residents of the area to, henceforth, slaughter cows found in the city centre.

The FCT Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, was handed over the directives by Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman of the committee yesterday.

Cows climbing down from a bridge in a city

Melaye made the speech as stated in the session, "it was very disappointing, annoying and embarrassing that despite the ban placed on cattle grazing in FCT by FCTA authority, some stubborn herdsmen were still moving cows along and across highways within the metropolis". 

He (Senator Melaye) ordered the FCT Minister to go beyond the ban by facilitating the slaughtering order issued by the senate committee. 

Cows obstructing motorist on the road

Melaye told the minister, “the Senate is not happy at how herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you had given directive against some time ago. 

"From now on, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre with a fine of N50,000 per cow. 

This order must be carried out." Melaye further revealed that the Senate was in receipt of complaints that some residents of the territory were converting their apartments into hotels and brothels, a situation he said was distorting the original master plan of the city.

Cows grazing in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.