Alia vows not to cede Benue land for ranching

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has declared that his administration will not permit any portion of state land to be allocated to pastoralists for ranching.

The Governor made this commitment during the commencement of his statewide tour of Federal Constituencies in Katsina-Ala, addressing concerns surrounding the Federal Government’s new National Ranching Policy.

The federal initiative directs states to provide land for ranches equipped with social amenities, including schools and hospitals.

The proposal had sparked criticism from local opposition parties and socio-cultural groups, who urged the Governor to clarify his position.

Responding to the policy, Governor Alia assured residents that no land would be given up without the explicit consent of the people and his administration.

“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to the pastoralist for any purpose.

“If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be this time that I am still the Governor of Benue State,” Alia said.

Addressing security challenges in the region, the Governor announced that three operational military units will be deployed to the Sankera axis comprising Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo local government areas.

The units will be stationed at Agu in Katsina-Ala, Anyiin in Logo, and Azendeshi in Ukum. Additionally, the state government donated 30 motorcycles to security personnel to enhance patrols and rapid response capabilities in the area.

On infrastructure, Governor Alia outlined plans to construct a new dam with a projected capacity of 460 megawatts, designed to improve local water supply and boost electricity generation across the state.

The Governor is currently conducting a statewide thank-you tour across the 11 federal constituencies in Benue State, using the visits to hold town hall meetings with local stakeholders and express appreciation to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).