Benue: PDP chieftain urges Alia to break silence on FG’s ranching policy

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Bemgba Iortyom, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and State Assembly candidate for Mata constituency, has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s plan to implement the National Ranching Policy in Benue State. Reacting to an announcement by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha—who listed Benue among five pilot states—Iortyom called the initiative a rebranded attempt to reintroduce the rejected “RUGA” settlements.

Core Objections to the Policy Ancestral Land Ceding: Iortyom argued it is unjust to take land from displaced farming communities to build settlements for herders.

Unequal Amenities: He questioned using public funds to provide schools, electricity, clinics, and water to newly established herder colonies when surrounding host communities have lacked these basic facilities for generations.

Private Business Model: He stressed that livestock production is a private business; the government should encourage herders to acquire land legally rather than state-annexing local territory.

Call to Action for Governor Hyacinth Alia

Iortyom urged Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia to immediately declare the state’s official position. He warned that the governor’s continued silence risks being interpreted as consent to a policy the people of Benue have repeatedly rejected.

Drawing comparisons to former Governor Samuel Ortom’s vocal resistance against previous Federal livestock initiatives (such as RUGA and the National Livestock Transformation Plan), Iortyom noted that clarity is needed to calm public anxiety.

Existing Legal Framework  Iortyom reiterated that there is no legal void regarding land use in the state. Benue’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017) already provides a framework for private ranching while banning open grazing. He concluded that changing a policy’s name does not alter its substance, urging the government to enforce existing state laws rather than impose federal grazing colonies.