The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has recently identified Benue State as one of the pilot states for its proposed ranching policy. Yet the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, is leaving no room for assumptions or shortcuts.
In a series of formal statements, the Benue State Government has made its position clear: any discussion, consultation, or consideration regarding the establishment of pilot ranches in the state must involve **all** relevant Benue stakeholders and cannot be reduced to a mere declaration or policy intention without adequate consultation.
The Benue State Government currently supports ranching, which is firmly entrenched in the provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, as amended. The legislation recognizes ranching as a legitimate livestock management option, principally within a framework that encourages private-sector participation. However, the state has now added important safeguards.
Through state-approved licensing protocols, any ranching proposal must adopt a bottom-up approach and be subjected to thorough scrutiny within the framework of existing legislation and state policies. The state is not against federal interventions that could promote livestock development and improve the livelihoods of its people. But no decision or pronouncement has been made yet regarding Benue State’s inclusion in the proposed pilot ranching programme.
The Bureau of Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Diseases Control (BLDTADC) is currently reviewing and technically examining the proposal while engaging relevant stakeholders and institutions. These consultations are intended to enrich and inform a formal position of the Benue State Government.
“We therefore appeal for patience and encourage continued constructive engagement among stakeholders across Benue State as the process unfolds,” the government states.
For the Benue State Government, the ultimate objective must remain the will of the people, pursued in accordance with existing laws and within the broader interest of promoting sustainable livestock development, food security, economic growth, and the rights and welfare of all the people of Benue State.
The statement was signed by Dr. Aondoakaa Asambe, Director-General of the Bureau.
The Benue State Government has clearly drawn a line in the sand: federal support for ranching is welcomed where it serves the people and aligns with state laws, but federal policy cannot bypass the people or bypass the legal processes already established in Benue.
