Mirian Gom 
BENUE, Nigeria – The Benue ranching plan has drawn criticism from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bemgba Iortyom, who urges the Federal Government to allow livestock owners to establish private ranches instead of funding ranches for herders.
Iortyom, the PDP’s 2027 Benue State House of Assembly candidate, made the call in a statement issued on Saturday in Makurdi.
He reacts to the Federal Government’s proposal to include Benue among five states selected for a pilot ranching programme aimed at addressing farmer-herder conflicts.
According to him, livestock production remains a private commercial activity and should not be financed by the government.
“Those who engage in livestock farming must shoulder the burden of acquiring land lawfully and ranch their animals.”
He questions why proposed government interventions focus primarily on livestock owners without addressing compensation for farming communities affected by years of violence.
Iortyom also asks why representatives of affected farmers, traditional rulers and landowners are absent from discussions surrounding the proposed policy.
He recalls that Benue residents rejected similar initiatives under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, including grazing routes, cattle colonies, RUGA settlements and the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The PDP chieftain insists that modernising livestock production should involve encouraging private investment rather than establishing government-supported settlements on ancestral farmland.
He urges the Federal Government to adopt policies that protect farming communities while promoting lawful and sustainable livestock production.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius