The Benue State Government has refuted claims that it has ceded any land to the Federal Government for ranching, clarifying that recent discussions were solely focused on livestock fodder production.
In a press release issued today, the government emphasized that the Livestock Breeding and Investigation Centre, Raav, remains a state-owned facility that houses some of the cattle herds belonging to the state government.
During the opening ceremony of the first Benue Livestock Summit, Governor Hyacinth Alia had appealed for special intervention from the Federal Government to conserve and breed the Muturu cattle breed (Bua Tiv)—a breed of great economic and cultural importance to the people of Benue. This request led to the visit of the Honorable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to the Raav facility.
While at the site, Minister Maiha recommended clearing 500 hectares out of the available 3,000 hectares for fodder production (grass cultivation). He stated that this move would improve fodder availability for the facility while also boosting markets and export potential. The Minister assured that Raav has the capacity to serve the entire nation and pledged support for capacity-building and modern breeding techniques.
However, contrary to some reports, the Federal Government does not own any land in Benue State, nor has any land been transferred for ranching purposes. The state government explained that misinterpretations of the Minister’s remarks may have led to false reports, as some failed to distinguish between fodder production and ranching.
According to the press release, the Minister explicitly stated that the Federal Government would only provide seedlings to support the state’s fodder production initiative on the designated 500 hectares. Furthermore, he recommended that the land be fenced and cleared, with federal support available to assist in the process.
The Benue State Government reassured residents that the Minister’s statements were recorded and remain clear and unambiguous, putting to rest any speculation about the cession of land for ranching.
