FACT-CHECK: Did Governor Alia approve FG’s Pilot Ranch in Benue?
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Aug 27, 2026 04:12
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By *Hannah Ayaaji *
26th August ,2026.
Recently, the Federal Government announced a pilot ranching policy aimed at modernizing livestock production and curbing farmer-herder conflicts by moving away from open grazing to localized ranching.
After listing Benue among five states selected for the pilot implementation of the policy, alarm bells started ringing across the state.
The Minister had said the programme would involve the establishment of grazing reserves equipped with housing, veterinary clinics, schools, primary healthcare centres, solar lighting and water infrastructure for herders and their livestock, with the settlements expected to develop into economic hubs.
Six locations were selected due to the high levels of farmer-herder tensions in the affected states which includes Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Since Benue State was among the states selected for the pilot programme the state government came out with a statement on the matter after much prompting by critics of the policy.
And following the press release issued by the state government as seen here on August 18, 2026, reactions have relentlessly trailed the announcement. Some residents claim that the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has signed up for the pilot ranching programme despite opposition from the community and religious leaders as well as the locals as seen here, here, here and here.
Despite the reactions of the people who have not hidden their discontent for the proposal, the Federal Government has remained mute over the matter after flying the initial kite.
CLAIM:
Governor Hyacinth Alia has given approval for the establishment of the Federal Government’s pilot ranch in Benue State.
VERIFICATION:
An investigation into the claim shows that Governor Alia has made statements contrary to the claim on different occasions.
Though at the onset of the controversial policy, he had through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula sued for calm which many misconstrued for acceptance of the policy.
Kula, in the statement on this social media handle titled, “Ranches: Leadership, Trust, and the Benue Project,” said Governor Alia was fully engaged on the matter and consulting with relevant authorities and stakeholders before taking a decision.
He urged Benue people not to rush to politicise the proposal, stressing that the governor remained committed to protecting the interests of the state.
According to him, “Governor Hyacinth Alia is a steadfast democrat who remains conscious that his mandate is a product of the people's will.” He added that the governor had consistently regarded every Benue citizen as a critical stakeholder in the state’s development.
Kula said the Federal Government’s proposal required thoughtful consideration rather than immediate public confrontation, stressing “there is no need to take the issue to the streets, churches, media or marketplaces in a rush to politicise it.”
He further assured that Alia had “never taken a position that is against the interests of Benue State,” adding that the governor would approach the matter with “careful consideration and strategic judgement” while ensuring that the interests of the state remained his priority.
Meanwhile speaking to newsmen at Government House Makurdi, shortly after the swearing-in of newly appointed Commissioners and the inauguration of board members at Benue TV, the governor explained that “ranching” could also involve goats and sheep, and that no state was being compelled to adopt cattle ranching, as seen here.
Moreso, during a Thank-You Tour in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, the governor was emphatic on the matter saying “nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to pastoralists for any purpose. If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be at this time that I am still the Governor of Benue state,” as reported here and here.
Conventional media platforms like The Nation, Vanguard and Leadership Newspaper also reported Governor Alia’s stance against the imposition of the policy on Benue people as can be seen here, here and here.
VERDICT: FALSE
The claim that Governor Alia has given approval for the establishment of the FG’s pilot ranch in Benue State is false
There is no concrete evidence to support it. The reactions on social media are based only on interpretations of the August 18 press release by the Benue state government. The claim has also not been reported by any conventional media platform.
This fact-check was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) as part of its Media Fellowship in Benue.
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