Benue Law Students Association Rejects Tinubu Government’s Proposed Ranching Policy, Demands Review Of Five-State Designation | Sahara Reporters

The law students’ association further raised concerns over the compatibility of the proposed policy with Nigeria’s existing land administration framework, particularly the Land Use Act.

The Benue State Law Students Association of Nigeria (BENLAWSAN) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed designation of five states in the Middle Belt region, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for the pilot rollout of the National Ranching Policy, calling for the immediate review, suspension and eventual rescission of the plan in its present form

BENLAWSAN made its position known in an official statement signed by its National President, Comrade Iortyom Ushahemba Moses, and dated August 18, 2026.

In the statement made available to SaharaReporters, the association said it had taken cognisance of reports concerning the proposed pilot programme, which is reportedly aimed at addressing the persistent and often deadly conflict between farmers and herders while improving Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Although BENLAWSAN acknowledged the Federal Government’s responsibility to formulate policies capable of tackling insecurity, promoting peaceful coexistence and strengthening agriculture, it described the proposed ranching policy as “lopsided, ill-conceived and fundamentally misplaced.”

The association’s principal objection centres on what it described as the apparent use or designation of public land in selected states for ranching.

According to BENLAWSAN, ranching is fundamentally a private economic activity, similar to crop farming, livestock trading and transportation, and should ordinarily be established and operated by individuals, companies, cooperatives or other lawful private entities.

It argued that the Federal Government should not, under the pretext of resolving farmer-herder conflicts, impose a particular land-use arrangement on states or communities without considering the constitutional, statutory, socioeconomic and demographic implications.

The law students’ association further raised concerns over the compatibility of the proposed policy with Nigeria’s existing land administration framework, particularly the Land Use Act.

While acknowledging that the law permits compulsory acquisition of land in certain circumstances for overriding public purposes, BENLAWSAN maintained that such powers could not be treated as an unrestricted authority to appropriate or designate scarce agricultural and community lands for a particular economic activity.

The association said any such action must be supported by compelling justification, due process and, where applicable, compensation, while protecting the rights and interests of affected communities.

BENLAWSAN expressed particular concern over the reported selection of states in the Middle Belt and the FCT, arguing that many of the areas are already experiencing population growth, settlement expansion, intensive agricultural activity and increasing competition for arable land.

It warned that introducing another major land-use demand into such communities could worsen existing tensions rather than resolve them.

“Indeed, in some communities, competition over farmland has generated disputes even among farming communities themselves,” the association said, stressing that population growth, environmental pressures and changing patterns of land use must be considered in the development of a national livestock policy.

BENLAWSAN argued that a policy intended to address insecurity could become counterproductive if it creates additional competition over land in communities already facing land scarcity.

Instead, the association advocated a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to the farmer-herder crisis.

It proposed modern livestock production systems, voluntary and privately financed ranching, improved veterinary services, livestock traceability, effective regulation of transhumance, early-warning mechanisms, strengthened community policing and intelligence gathering, protection of farming communities and the prosecution of criminal elements irrespective of their identity.

It also called for meaningful conflict-resolution mechanisms involving communities and stakeholders affected by farmer-herder disputes.

According to the association, the solution should not involve transferring the burden of livestock production to already densely populated agricultural communities.

The statement partly read: “If ranching is considered indispensable to addressing insecurity and transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector, then the Federal Government should first examine the vast territories currently occupied or threatened by bandits, terrorists and other criminal groups, particularly in states with extensive landmass such as Niger, Borno and Bauchi.

“We say this deliberately to expose the inconsistency in a policy that seeks to designate scarce and highly contested land in densely populated areas for ranching while enormous territories remain inaccessible because of insecurity.

If the Federal Government is determined that a national grazing reserve must be established as part of its security strategy, then, with due regard to law, environmental considerations and the rights of affected communities, it should consider areas such as the Sambisa Forest, which has for years been associated with insurgent activity, as a possible national security and livestock-development project after the restoration of effective state control,” the Association stated.

It however, argued that land-use policy must follow security realities and socioeconomic logic, not political convenience.

Consequently, BENLAWSAN demanded: “Immediately review, suspend and ultimately rescind the proposed designation of the five states, including the FCT, for the pilot rollout of the National Ranching Policy in its present form.

“Abandon any policy that seeks to impose ranching upon states or communities without their meaningful participation and consent, and without strict compliance with the Constitution and applicable land laws.

“Recognise ranching as a legitimate private economic enterprise and encourage private investment in ranching rather than seeking to transfer the cost and land burden of livestock production to already vulnerable communities.

“Develop a genuinely national, inclusive and evidence-based livestock policy that takes into account population density, land availability, environmental sustainability, security realities and the legitimate interests of both farmers and livestock owners.

“Strengthen security institutions to identify, apprehend and prosecute criminal elements responsible for killings, destruction of farms, cattle rustling, banditry and other forms of criminality, irrespective of ethnic, religious or regional identity.

“Ensure that any acquisition of land for a genuine overriding public purpose complies strictly with the Land Use Act and other applicable laws, including the rights of affected persons to due process and lawful compensation where applicable.”

The association also called on the Benue State Government to take a clear position on the issue, warning that silence could ultimately be interpreted as acquiescence.

BENLAWSAN described Benue as predominantly agrarian and said the state’s dependence on access to agricultural land made any federal policy capable of altering land-use patterns a matter requiring rigorous scrutiny.

It urged the state government to protect the legitimate interests of Benue residents while maintaining constructive engagement with the Federal Government on sustainable approaches to farmer-herder conflicts.

The association maintained that its position was neither partisan, religious nor ethnic.

It appealed to Nigerians across political, religious, ethnic and cultural lines to oppose policies it believes could deepen existing fault lines and intensify competition over scarce land resources.

According to BENLAWSAN, Nigeria needs policies capable of uniting communities, protecting livelihoods and strengthening national security rather than measures that could create new areas of contestation.

“The farmer-herder crisis requires a national solution, but a national solution must also be fair, lawful, inclusive and rational,” BENLAWSAN said.