Why we didn’t reject NLTP, by Benue government

Benue State Government has explained that it did not reject the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) because the National Economic Council (NEC), which has the 36 state governors as members, approved it.

The state had rejected establishment of cattle colonies, Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements and grazing reserves previously proposed by the Federal Government to curb farmers-herders’ clashes across the country.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, the state noted that the issue of cattle colonies, RUGA settlements and grazing reserves were neither discussed nor approved by NEC.

According to the statement, as regards the NLTP, the NEC agreed that each state would be free to adopt aspects of the plan that suit its peculiarities.

Benue already has a law on ranching and there is no provision in the legislation for open grazing, it added. “In line with the above, when Benue stakeholders recently met and studied the NLTP document critically, they resolved that the plan has other aspects of infrastructure development from which the state would benefit. Prominent among such provisions in the document is the plan for resettlement of those affected by herdsmen attacks and other forms of violence in different parts of the state.

“The stakeholders subsequently issued a communiqué which made it clear that the state would embrace the NLTP to the extent that it does not breach provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state,” Akase stated.

At the stakeholders’ meeting, a technical team of experts was proposed to study the NLTP document and identify areas suitable for implementation in Benue based on peculiarities of the state, The Guardian learnt.The meeting also resolved that the NLTP should be domesticated in the state to ensure that it conforms to the laws of the state.