MAKURDI, Nigeria – Nigeria‘s Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, urged residents to remain calm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following the Federal Government‘s announcement including Benue State in a pilot ranching programme.
Okay News reports that Alia addressed the matter in Makurdi shortly after swearing in newly appointed commissioners. He stated that many residents became agitated without fully understanding the context of the federal announcement. “it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going to have any ranch in the state,” Alia said.
The governor explained that livestock is a broad term covering animals such as goats, sheep, and birds, and noted that the state operates a Ministry of Livestock. “Livestock is quite generic. So even ordinarily, we have a state law prohibiting open grazing in the state and it is still in force. So it is still in practice,” Alia said.
He referenced historical land mapping during the administration of former governor Aper Aku, citing locations like Kyogen and areas in Vandeikya designated for goats and sheep. “During Aper Aku regime, we had specific places that were mapped out for ranching. We have areas like Kyogen, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are even getting cows to Kyogen,” he said.
Alia stated that Nigeria‘s President Bola Tinubu would not mandate policies against the wishes of the state. “If we don’t want cows, meaning if the people of the state do not want the ranching of cows here, the Federal Government is not forcing the state to have cow ranching,” he said. “Nobody is forcing anything on anybody, on any state at all,” he said. The governor advised residents against reacting to incomplete information circulated on social media. “If you have relevant questions, ask the relevant questions, ask the authorities the questions you have,” Alia said. “The agitated, those who feel disenfranchised in some series of ways, calm down, calm down. This is a people-oriented government, and everything we’re doing must be people-directed,” he said.
