Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured the people of Benue State that the Federal Government will not force the state or its residents to accept cattle ranching against their wishes.
Speaking on the planned Federal Government pilot ranching programme in Benue, Alia urged residents to remain calm and properly understand what the announcement means before drawing conclusions. According to the governor, the people of Benue have already made their position known, and his administration remains committed to protecting their interests, maintaining peace and ensuring that government programmes reflect the wishes of the people.
“The Federal Government is not forcing the state to have cow ranching. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody at any stage of this,” Alia said. He also clarified that the word ranching should not automatically be interpreted as cattle ranching, pointing out that Benue has other livestock such as goats and sheep that could be developed into economic opportunities.
The governor further urged residents to seek clarification from relevant authorities before reacting to government announcements, warning that spreading assumptions without understanding the context could create unnecessary tension. “This is a people-oriented government, and everything we are doing must be people-directed,” he said.
For many Benue residents, the key question now is what exactly the proposed pilot ranching programme will look like and how it will affect communities across the state.
