Hyacinth Alia calls for enactment of open grazing prohibition law

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, has implored the ministry of livestock development to lead the calls for the enactment of laws prohibiting open grazing across the country.

Alia spoke on Friday in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, during the opening of the 2025 Benue livestock summit.

The governor said the summit marked a strategic partnership between the state, and the ministry of livestock, noting that ranches remain the “only reasonable animal husbandry in the world”.

“I also wish to reaffirm our administration’s commitment to the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (as amended),” Alia said.

“It is my hope that the federal ministry of livestock development will take the lead in national legislative reforms to prohibit open grazing and promote ranch establishment nationwide.

“This maiden Benue livestock summit marks the formal launch of a strategic partnership between Benue state, the federal ministry of livestock development, and global livestock stakeholders.”

The governor noted that livestock development in Benue had been “historically overlooked, despite its significant potential to combat food insecurity, generate wealth, and contribute to the country’s GDP.”

Alia said his administration would establish 10 feed mills and 10 hatcheries in each senatorial district and nine agricultural training centres to improve collaboration between farmers.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for establishing the ministry of livestock development.

He added that the insights from the summit would inform government policy and attract investments.

“Furthermore, while we focus on diversifying the entire livestock value chain, we seek the honourable minister’s support in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Benue’s pig industry,” the governor said.

“Currently, our administration is expanding arable lands and cultivating crops that serve as raw feeds, fodder, or processed livestock feed. We believe this summit will significantly enrich our ongoing efforts in promoting livestock development.”