Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured residents that no ranch will be established in the state without the consent of the people.
Alia gave the assurance in Katsina-Ala during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo local government areas, amid concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed ranching policy and the inclusion of Benue as a pilot state.
The governor said Benue residents would not allow any external force to forcibly take their land for ranching or other purposes.
“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to pastoralists 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,” he said.
The position comes against the backdrop of recurring security challenges and tensions over land use and farmer-herder relations in parts of Benue, particularly the Sankera axis comprising Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo.
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Alia also announced measures to strengthen security in the area, including the establishment of three military operational units from the newly created 5 Division of the Nigerian Army. The units will be located in Agu, Katsina-Ala; Anyiin, Logo; and Azendeshi, Ukum.
The governor also announced the donation of 30 motorcycles to security agencies in the area to enhance patrols and improve rapid response to distress calls.
On infrastructure, Alia announced plans to construct a new dam with a projected capacity of 460 megawatts. “The project will provide water and support electricity generation in the state,” he said.
Alia is currently on a statewide thank-you tour to appreciate members of the All Progressives Congress for electing him as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate.
The tour includes town hall meetings with stakeholders across the state’s 11 federal constituencies and is expected to continue in the remaining constituencies in the coming days.
