SOUTHERN, MIDDLE BELT LEADERS REJECT FG RANCHING PLAN

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching scheme, expressing concerns that the programme could lead to the loss of ancestral lands belonging to communities in the affected regions.

The forum raised its objections in a statement signed by its leaders, including the President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, and representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the Pan Niger Delta Forum.

The group said it was particularly concerned about plans involving parts of Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Federal Government has said the ranching initiative is designed to modernise livestock production, reduce open cattle movement and address the persistent farmer-herder crisis.

However, the forum questioned why the pilot programme was concentrated largely in the Middle Belt when other areas of the country have more sparsely populated land.

The leaders said they were not opposed to ranching or the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry but objected to what they described as a lack of transparency and adequate consultation with affected communities.

They demanded details of the proposed ranch locations, the legal framework for acquiring the land, ownership structures, intended beneficiaries, funding arrangements and security plans.

The forum also raised concerns about the possibility of the programme creating permanent settlement areas for nomadic herders, saying such a development could worsen existing tensions in communities affected by farmer-herder conflicts.

The leaders recalled previous initiatives, including RUGA and cattle colony proposals, which faced strong opposition in several parts of the country.

They argued that livestock development could be pursued through privately owned ranches on legally acquired land rather than through government-backed acquisition of community lands.

The forum urged the Federal Government to engage affected communities and state authorities before implementing the programme.

It maintained that any sustainable solution to the farmer-herder crisis must protect land rights, respect local communities and promote peaceful coexistence.

The group warned that proceeding without transparency and broad consultation could create fresh tensions in areas already affected by farmer-herder conflicts.