Ortom Opens Up On Reviewing Open Grazing Law In Benue

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has stated that there is no policy reversal on the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

On Tuesday, the Governor talked with journalists after reviewing completed and ongoing projects in Makurdi, the state capital, amid media reports that the state has reconsidered its stance on open grazing.

He added the assertion attributed to his Education Commissioner, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, that there is acreage for ranching is correct, but that individuals who want to undertake livestock business in the state must follow the law’s rules, which prohibit open grazing but recognize on-farm grazing.

Asked if the state government was part of the peace deal with the leadership of Miyetti Allah as reported in the media, the Governor denied knowledge of any such negotiations between leaders from Benue and Miyetti Allah leadership over crises between farmers and herders.

He explained that although leaders have a right to seek for peace for their people, he said even if the said peace negotiation is true, such peace initiative has not been brought to his knowledge.

The governor, who commended the contractor that handled the construction of the 9 kilometer Apri-Tse-Poor road for a job well done also condemned a contractor with the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB for executing a shoddy job.

The Apir-Tse-Poor road project and electrification spanning 12 Kilometres according to the Governor costs N1.4 billion to execute.

Governor Ortom directed the SUBEB Chairman to ensure that all primary schools in Makurdi metropolis and other major towns are provided with customised desks and chairs.

He announced that already, the state government has received its counterpart fund of N1.6 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC and the state is sourcing it’s own share to match for more infrastructural work in the sector where more furniture and other requirements will be provided for schools in the state.

At the old Lobi Bank complex which is now the permanent headquarters of the Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, the governor directed that work be completed on the building immediately to enable the revenue generating agency move in.

The BIRS headquarters is now named as ‘Aper Aku House.’

Other projects inspected included Benue Geographic Information Service, BENGIS, under construction at the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, permanent office complex for the Ministry of Housing and other Government agencies.

Benue Television, renovation work on the Administrative Block of Benue Peoples House, Arabic Primary School, Central Primary School and Holy Ghost Primary School all in Wadata were also inspected.