Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, has prohibited the construction of ranches without the approval of his government and the populace.
According to Daily Trust, Alia’s response was a response to fresh worries about pastoralism and land use raised by the federal government’s trial ranching program, which included Benue in its initial phase.
However, the governor stated that his administration would not permit any portion of Benue land to be given to pastoralists for ranching or any other purpose without the consent of the people during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Sankera bloc, which includes the local government areas of Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo.
“No one will compel us to give the pastoralists even a little portion of our property for whatever reason. I can promise you that if that has to happen, it won’t be while I’m still the governor of Benue State,” he declared.
The state’s open-grazing ban and the ongoing discussion about ranching as a potential remedy for farmer-herder disputes and livestock management in Benue are other factors that surround the governorship.
However, Alia announced the deployment of three military operating units to key places in Sankera, saying his administration was taking action to bolster security throughout the region.
According to him, the units will be stationed in Agu in Katsina-Ala, Anyiin in Logo, and Azendeshi in Ukum. Additionally, thirty motorcycles will be supplied to security agencies in order to enhance patrols and prompt reaction.
The governor also unveiled plans for a new dam with a 460 megawatt capacity, claiming the project would help the state’s power production and supply water.
Following his selection as the party’s nominee for governor in 2027, Alia is going on a statewide thank-you tour of APC stakeholders. Town hall meetings are being held across the state’s eleven federal constituencies.
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