The Benue State government on Tuesday said there is no land to be bequeathed for cattle grazing routes or any such adventures.
Reacting to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on the plan of the federal government to commence rehabilitation of grazing reserves in the country, the state government said Benue should be counted out of the plan.
The Benue State government described the federal government’s move as shocking.
“While we may not stop the federal government’s plan to rehabilitate grazing reserves or create cattle routes in other states, we wish to make it clear that no land in Benue State has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements. Benue is therefore not part of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme of the federal government.
“We expect the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to weigh the negative consequences its recommendation will have on the unity and security of the nation and advise Mr President that Nigerians are not on the same page with him regarding the matter of open grazing. It is not too late to salvage the situation,” the statement read.