Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has allayed fears over the Federal Government’s recent approval for five states to begin ranching, saying the announcement does not automatically mean cow ranching will take place in Benue.
The Governor spoke on Friday while responding to questions during an interaction with journalists at Government House, Makurdi.
He said the controversy trailing the federal policy arose from a lack of proper understanding of the announcement, stressing that “livestock” is a generic term that covers goats, sheep, birds and other animals, not just cows.
“By virtue of the announcement, it does not necessarily mean that we are going to have any ranching in the state,” Gov. Alia said. “We have a Ministry of Livestock and we already have sheep, goats, birds and other animals in our backyard. So livestock is quite generic.”
The Governor reminded citizens that the Benue Anti-Open Grazing Law is still in force. “The state has a law prohibiting open grazing and it is still in force. No one has pulled it out, so it is still in practice,” he added.
Gov. Alia explained that ranching, as practiced in many rural communities, already exists in Benue where livestock owners tether goats and sheep to prevent them from destroying crops.
He urged residents to remain calm, noting that the Federal Government is not imposing cow ranching on any state.
“The President is a peaceful man and he doesn’t force us to do anything. This is a government of the people. It is not Alia’s government and it is not just Tinubu’s government. In the last three years, Mr. President has never imposed anything on anybody,” he said.
He further cautioned against panic and misinformation on social media, urging citizens to seek clarification from relevant authorities before reacting.
“Every issue that comes up has a perspective and we need to understand this. Those who feel agitated should calm down. This is a people-oriented government and everything we are doing must reflect the wishes of the people,” Gov. Alia stated.
He reiterated that his administration would continue to turn challenges into opportunities, while ensuring that government policies align with the will of Benue people.
