Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has assured residents of the state that the Federal Government is not forcing the state or its people to accept cattle ranching against their wishes.

Governor Alia gave the assurance while speaking about the Federal Government’s planned pilot ranching programme in Benue State.

Speaking at the event, the Governor said the people of Benue had already expressed their position on ranching, and his administration remained committed to protecting their interests, ensuring that government programmes reflected the wishes of residents.

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Alia also clarified the interpretation of the term “Ranching”, saying it should not automatically be understood to mean cattle ranching.

“The Federal Government is not forcing the state to have cow ranching. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody at any stage of this,” he said.

He pointed out that Benue has other livestock, including goats and sheep, which could also be developed as economic opportunities.

Governor Alia suggested that the proposed programme should be understood within a broader livestock-development context rather than being automatically equated with the establishment of cattle ranches.

This is as he urged residents to seek clarification from relevant authorities before reacting to government announcements.

Alia warned that acting on assumptions or spreading information without understanding the context could create unnecessary tension, particularly on an issue that has generated strong public interest in the state.

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