Benue PDP Rejects FG-Funded Ranches for Herders: Cites Ancestral Land Ownership Concerns

• The Benue PDP has rejected the FG's plan to establish ranches for herders.
• The party argues that those who engage in livestock farming must acquire land lawfully, not rely on government-established settlements.
• The rejection is based on concerns over ancestral land ownership and compensation for affected farming communities.
• The Federal Government's plan may raise questions about the role of government in resolving farmer-herder conflicts.

He said, “For eight years between 2015 and 2023, Benue people were confronted with one proposal after another supposedly designed to resolve what the Federal Government persistently described as ‘farmer-herder conflicts’.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has rejected the Federal Government's plan to establish ranches for herders, citing concerns over ancestral land ownership and compensation for affected farming communities. The party's 2027 State House of Assembly candidate, Bemgba Iortyom, made this call in a statement issued on Saturday, advising the Federal Government to instead encourage livestock owners to acquire land lawfully and establish ranches on their own. This is not the first time Benue people have rejected government policies aimed at resolving farmer-herder conflicts. In fact, the late Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had proposed similar policies under various nomenclatures, including grazing routes, cattle colonies, RUGA settlements, and the National Livestock Transformation Plan, but they were all bluntly rejected by the people of the state.

The Federal Government's plan to establish ranches for herders may raise concerns about ancestral land ownership and compensation for affected farming communities. Lawyers advising clients on land acquisition and use should note that this issue is at the heart of the Benue PDP's rejection of the FG-funded ranches. The party argues that those who engage in livestock farming must shoulder the burden of acquiring land lawfully, just as crop farmers and other private entrepreneurs do. This raises questions about the role of government in resolving farmer-herder conflicts and whether the proposed solution focuses exclusively on herders and livestock.

The Federal Government's plan to modernize livestock production is a laudable goal, but it should be done in a way that respects the rights of farming communities. The Benue PDP's rejection of the FG-funded ranches highlights the need for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to resolving farmer-herder conflicts. By encouraging livestock owners to acquire land lawfully and establish ranches on their own, the Federal Government can promote private sector-led development in the livestock industry while also addressing the concerns of affected farming communities.

Lawyers advising clients on land acquisition and use should note that the Federal Government's plan to establish ranches for herders may raise concerns about ancestral land ownership and compensation for affected farming communities.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch Newspaper