Benue Governor Alia Rejects Federal Ranching Plan

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has firmly rejected the Federal Government's plan to allocate land in the state for ranching without his administration's approval and the consent of the local populace. This declaration was made during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Sankera bloc, which includes Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo Local Government Areas.

The Federal Government had recently identified Benue as one of the locations for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy, aimed at modernizing livestock production and mitigating farmer-herder conflicts. Governor Alia emphasized that his administration would not allow any land to be ceded for pastoral activities, stating, “Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land.” In response to ongoing security challenges in the Sankera area, Alia announced the establishment of three military operational units and the provision of 30 motorcycles to enhance security operations.

He also revealed plans for a new dam project with a capacity of 460 megawatts to support water supply and electricity generation in the state.