The association stated that there is no available land in Benue for this ranching program and that its members are unhappy with the decision.
This information was shared by the acting chairman of the association, Rev. Jonathan Terwase Ugbede, during a meeting in Makurdi.
He pointed out that the land in Benue is already insufficient for the increasing population, making it unreasonable to consider handing over ancestral lands to the Federal Government for the ranching initiative.
“There is no land available anywhere in the state, and the Church in Benue does not support the pilot ranching program.
“No government, including the Benue State government, should even think about giving ancestral lands to the Tinubu Federal Government for what would be an invasion disguised as a ranching initiative meant for private profit,” he stated.
Rev. Ugbede raised concerns that the government’s plan to create ranches indicates a disregard for the existing law that bans open grazing and allows for the establishment of ranches as private enterprises, which he claims the Federal Government is now aggressively trying to implement.
He expressed disappointment that the law remains in effect, emphasizing that the pilot ranching program would breach it by using public funds to take lands from those living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps to create ranches.
Chief Ugbede questioned why the government seems reluctant to focus on returning displaced individuals to their ancestral homes to reclaim their lands, instead opting to pursue the pilot ranching initiative.
Nonetheless, the Benue CAN chairman commended the Tinubu administration for setting up the 5 Division of the Nigerian Army in the state to tackle security issues.
He described this action as praiseworthy and capable of addressing the ongoing insecurity challenges.