By Peter Duru, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has urged residents to remain calm over the inclusion of the state in the Federal Government’s pilot ranching programme, saying the announcement does not mean that cattle ranching will automatically be established in Benue.
Alia spoke at the weekend in Makurdi shortly after swearing in newly appointed commissioners, amid reactions to the Federal Government’s announcement listing Benue among states selected for the pilot scheme.
The governor said many residents became agitated without fully understanding the context of the Federal Government’s announcement, stressing that “it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going to have any ranch in the state.”
According to him, the state already has a Ministry of Livestock, noting that livestock is a broad term covering animals such as goats, sheep and birds, and is not limited to cattle.
