The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has recently considered Benue State as one of the pilot states for its proposed ranching policy. The Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia is not unmindful of the concerns and anxieties being expressed by professionals, communities, stakeholders, and individuals regarding the position and expectations of the Benue State Government on the proposed policy.
His Excellency wishes to restate that any discussion, consultation, or consideration regarding the establishment of pilot ranches in Benue State must involve all relevant Benue stakeholders and must not be reduced to a mere declaration or policy intention without adequate consultation.
The Benue State Government currently supports ranching, which is firmly entrenched in the provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, as amended. The legislation recognizes ranching as a legitimate livestock management option, principally within a framework that encourages private-sector participation through state-approved licensing protocols.
Accordingly, any ranching proposal for Benue State must adopt a bottom-up approach and be subjected to thorough scrutiny within the framework of existing legislation and state policies.
While the Benue State Government generally supports Federal Government interventions, programmes, and partnerships that have the potential to promote livestock development and improve the livelihoods of our people, no decision or pronouncement has been made regarding the inclusion of Benue State in the proposed pilot ranching programme.
The concerns of the people, as well as the necessary institutional, legal, operational, and policy considerations surrounding any Federal Government–State ranching partnership, will be carefully examined before the Benue State Government takes a formal position.
The Benue State Government, through the Bureau of Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Diseases Control (BLDTADC), is currently reviewing and technically examining the proposal while engaging relevant stakeholders and institutions. These consultations are intended to enrich and inform a formal position of the Benue State Government.
We therefore appeal for patience and encourage continued constructive engagement among stakeholders across Benue State as the process unfolds.
For the Benue State Government, the ultimate objective must remain THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, pursued in accordance with existing laws and within the broader interest of promoting sustainable livestock development, food security, economic growth, and the rights and welfare of all the people of Benue State.
SIGNED:
Dr. Aondokaa Asambe
Director-General, 2026
