Alia: Benue won’t surrender land for federal ranching plan

BENUE State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has rejected any move by the Nigerian central government to allocate land in the state for ranching without the approval of his administration and the people.

Alia made his position known on Tuesday during a town hall meeting with residents and stakeholders from the Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency.

The governor said Benue would not accept any arrangement that involved handing over its territory to pastoralists against the wishes of the people.

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He warned that his administration would resist attempts to compel the state to surrender land for ranching.

“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to pastoralists for any purpose,” Alia said.

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

The governor’s comments come amid the Federal Government’s plan to establish ranches as part of efforts to tackle the persistent farmer-herder conflict across the country.

The proposed ranching programme is expected to begin with a pilot project in Plateau State before being extended to Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

Three military units planned

Alia also announced fresh security measures for Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo, including the establishment of three military operational units.

He said the units would operate under the newly created 5 Division of the Nigerian Army and would be located in Agu, Katsina-Ala; Anyiin, Logo; and Azendeshi, Ukum.

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The governor further disclosed that his administration would provide 30 motorcycles to security agencies to enhance patrol operations and improve their response to emergencies.

On infrastructure, Alia said the state was planning a dam project capable of generating up to 460 megawatts of electricity.

According to him, the project would provide water while also contributing to electricity generation in Benue. Alia is currently touring the state following his emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The tour, which includes town hall meetings, is covering stakeholders across the state’s 11 federal constituencies. The governor said the engagement would continue in the remaining constituencies in the coming days.