The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected a federal government plan to establish grazing reserves in the state.
The dispute centers on the National Ranching Policy, a federal initiative that has sparked tension over land use and regional security in Nigeria. Because land ownership is a sensitive issue in the region, the PDP's challenge puts pressure on the state executive to align with local sentiment or federal directives.
On Sunday, the PDP challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to publicly declare his position on the proposed reserves [2]. The party said the federal government's plan is untenable given the current land availability and social climate in Benue State.
Party representatives said the National Ranching Policy faces growing opposition. They said that the establishment of such reserves would be impractical and unwelcome within the state's borders.
"Benue land is not available," a PDP spokesperson said [1].
The party's rejection stems from the belief that the state cannot accommodate these settlements without creating further conflict. By calling on Governor Alia to state his position, the PDP seeks to force a public commitment against the federal plan before any implementation begins [3].
The PDP continues to maintain that the federal government must respect the land constraints of Benue State. The party said that the National Ranching Policy does not align with the needs, or the available space, of the local population [1, 2].
“"Benue land is not available"”
This confrontation highlights the ongoing friction between Nigeria's federal land-use policies and state-level governance. By forcing Governor Alia to take a public stand, the PDP is leveraging local land disputes to create a political litmus test for the governor, potentially framing his response as a choice between federal loyalty and state interests.
