 The day when open grazing is supposed to stop in southern Nigeria is here But only a few states have enacted laws to that effect This could be as a result of the division the issue has caused between the north and the south plus TV Africa's Jacinta of Uqa reports The governor's of Nigeria's 17 southern states resolving to ban open grazing across the region by September the 1st September the 1st has come and 6 states by also rivers Oyo, Ekiti, Abia and Ondo have complied with the decision to enact the law banning open grazing of cattle. Governor Oluwa Rotimi Akeridu Olu of Ondo state signed his state anti-open grazing bill into law on Tuesday The government did not return plus TV Africa's request for an interview Fewer issues have divided southern Nigeria and Abuja as much as the plan to ban open grazing Analysts believe that could be a reason why most states in the region are yet to walk the talk In Emo state, Governor Hope Uzodema recently said a law has been in existence since 2006 that ensures farmers and herders live together in peace This has brought a lot of controversial reactions but the governor believes his statement was grossly misinterpreted and the state commissioner for information explains This has become the basis of cattle in skilled areas like residential areas, commercial areas and so on But then there are still some areas that are not covered by the law So what the governor did was to bring the herders and farmers in Emo state to a round table discussion He believes that modernity is to coexist peacefully and is working for us What is important is that there is peace in the state between the two groups I don't see how that contradicts any other thing Some herders consider the collective decision to ban open grazing in southern Nigeria a bad idea But the Miatihala Cattle Breeders Association has on its own axed for more time so that they can put alternative plans in place The rest of Nigeria now has to wait to see what happens if cattle stray into states with the law already in place Jacinta Ubyuku for PLOS TV Africa Don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates