FG Won’t Force Ranching Policy on Benue – Gov. Alia

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has urged residents to remain calm over the inclusion of the state in the Federal Government’s pilot ranching programme, saying the announcement does not mean that cattle ranching will automatically be established in Benue.
Alia spoke at the weekend in Makurdi shortly after swearing in newly appointed commissioners, amid reactions to the Federal Government’s announcement listing Benue among states selected for the pilot scheme.
The governor said many residents became agitated without fully understanding the context of the Federal Government’s announcement, stressing that “it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going to have any ranch in the state.”
According to him, the state already has a Ministry of Livestock, noting that livestock is a broad term covering animals such as goats, sheep and birds, and is not limited to cattle.
“Livestock is quite generic. So even ordinarily, we have a state law prohibiting open grazing in the state, and it is still in force. So it is still in practice,” Alia said.
The governor stressed that the Federal Government’s reference to ranching should first be properly understood before residents draw conclusions about its implications for Benue.
He said the state had historically designated certain areas for livestock-related activities, citing Kyogen as one of the locations mapped out during the administration of former Governor Aper Aku.
“During the Aper Aku regime, we had specific places that were mapped out for ranching. We have areas like Kyogen, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are even getting cows to Kyogen,” he explained.
Alia further disclosed that areas in Vandeikya had also been mapped out for the ranching of goats and sheep, stressing that livestock development should not automatically be interpreted as a plan to introduce cattle ranching into the state.
He said Benue could instead explore other opportunities in the livestock value chain without violating the state’s existing prohibition on open grazing.
“If we don’t want cows, meaning if the people of the state do not want the ranching of cows here, the Federal Government is not forcing the state to have cow ranching,” the governor said.
Alia appealed to residents and those who had expressed strong opposition to the announcement to “calm down,” saying the state government remained committed to preserving peace and ensuring that government policies reflected the interests of the people.
“Nobody is forcing anything on anybody, on any state at all,” he said, adding that President Bola Tinubu was “a peaceful man” who would not force Benue to implement a policy against its wishes.
The governor also cautioned residents against reacting to government announcements based on incomplete information circulated on social media.
“If you have relevant questions, ask the relevant questions, ask the authorities the questions you have,” Alia advised.
He added that his administration remained people-oriented and would not impose policies on residents against their wishes, stressing, “This is the government of the people. It’s not Alia’s government.”
Alia therefore called for a better understanding of the ranching proposal and urged residents to avoid actions that could undermine the relative peace in the state.
“The agitated, those who feel disenfranchised in some series of ways, calm down, calm down. This is a people-oriented government, and everything we’re doing must be people-directed,” he said.