News
Benue Govt Rejects FG Ranching Plan, Says Land Not For Herders
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has rejected any attempt to allocate land in the state for ranching without the approval of his administration and the consent of the people.
Alia made the position clear on Monday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Sankera bloc, which covers Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas.
The governor’s statement comes less than two weeks after the Federal Government named Benue among the locations selected for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.
The policy, announced by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, is aimed at promoting modern livestock production and reducing the movement of large herds of cattle across communities.
Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory, were identified for the initiative.
The Federal Government said the selected areas were chosen because of their history of farmer-herder conflicts. The pilot programme is expected to begin at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State.
But the announcement has triggered strong reactions in Benue.
Governor Alia has now made it clear that his administration will not permit the compulsory use of Benue land for pastoral activities.
“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to the pastoralist for any purpose. If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be this time that I am still the governor of Benue State,” Alia said.
His comment places the state government firmly against any arrangement that would involve taking over land without local approval.
The Sankera axis, in particular, has remained one of the areas facing serious security challenges.
Communities in Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo have suffered attacks, killings and kidnappings over the years.
Many residents have also been forced to leave their homes and farms because of insecurity.
It was against this background that Alia announced fresh measures to improve security in the area.
The governor said three military operational units would be established at strategic locations across Sankera.
One of the units will be located in Agu, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. Another will be stationed in Anyiin, Logo, while the third will be based in Azendeshi, Ukum.
Alia also announced that 30 motorcycles would be provided to security agencies operating in the area.
According to him, the motorcycles are expected to improve movement, patrols and the ability of security personnel to respond quickly when emergencies occur.
Alia said his administration would continue to take steps aimed at protecting residents and restoring confidence in communities affected by insecurity.
The governor also spoke about infrastructure during the meeting.
He announced plans for the construction of a new dam with a projected capacity of 460 megawatts.
The project, according to him, is expected to provide water and support electricity generation in the state.
The town hall meetings are being held across Benue’s 11 federal constituencies.
Benue Groups Had Earlier Rejected Ranching Plan
In a related development, Mzough U Tiv, Ochetoha K’Idoma and Omi Ny’Igede had earlier rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ranching programme in the state.
The three groups represent the Tiv, Idoma and Igede communities respectively.
At a press conference in Makurdi earlier this month, the organisations said they were not against modern ranching as an agricultural and commercial activity.
However, they opposed any plan that would impose ranches on communities without their consent.
They also called for the safe return of internally displaced persons before any major allocation of land for ranching is considered.
The groups argued that thousands of Benue residents displaced by violence are still unable to return to their ancestral communities.
They maintained that securing the affected areas and restoring displaced farmers should come before committing large portions of land to a new livestock programme.
The organisations also stressed the importance of protecting farmland and food production in the state.
Benue already has its Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, which prohibits open grazing and provides a legal framework for ranch establishment in the state.
The state government has repeatedly maintained that livestock production can be developed through ranching, but that such development must follow existing laws and respect the rights of communities.
Rivers United assistant coach Daniel Olanrewaju has admitted that his side effectively lost their CAF Champions League tie against FC San Pedro in the opening 20 minutes, despite producing a spirited comeback in the second leg in Uyo.
Sports247 reports that Rivers United were held to a 2-2 draw by the Ivorian side in the return leg, but the result was not enough to overturn the scoreline from the first encounter, as San Pedro progressed on aggregate with away goal rules.
Reflecting on the disappointing elimination, Olanrewaju acknowledged that his team expected a difficult contest but identified their early defensive lapses as the decisive moment in the tie.
“It’s a difficult game, we expected it. We lost the game after conceding two goals in the first 20 minutes,” Olanrewaju said.
According to the Rivers United assistant coach, conceding twice so early against a quality continental opponent left his side with an uphill task.
“I think that was where we lost it. In a continental game, it is not easy to bounce back,” he added.
Rivers United showed character in Uyo by fighting back to secure a 2-2 draw, but the comeback came too late to rescue their Champions League campaign.
Olanrewaju stressed that the intensity and tactical demands of continental football are significantly different from the domestic league, making it particularly difficult for a team to recover from an early setback.
“This isn’t NPFL,” he noted.
The coach also paid tribute to San Pedro, describing the Ivorian outfit as one of the strongest sides Rivers United have faced, both tactically and in terms of individual quality.
“This is one of the best sides, tactical and talent-wise. It’s unfortunate, honestly,” he said.
The elimination means Rivers United will now turn their attention to their domestic campaign while reflecting on the lessons from their continental experience.
For Olanrewaju and the Rivers United technical crew, the challenge will be to address the defensive lapses that proved costly against San Pedro and ensure the team can compete more effectively in future CAF competitions.
Despite their elimination, the comeback in Uyo demonstrated the resilience within the squad, but the early damage had already placed the Nigerian representatives in a difficult position.
For Rivers United, the continental campaign ended with disappointment, but the experience against a tactically accomplished San Pedro side could prove valuable as they continue their quest for success on both the domestic and continental fronts.
Business
Cornerstone Insurance Unveils “Cornerstone 3.0” Transformation Agenda at 2026 Brokers’ Business Lunch
Cornerstone Insurance PLC has unveiled key elements of its transformation agenda, “Cornerstone 3.0,” aimed at strengthening its operations, enhancing customer experience and positioning the company for sustainable growth.
The agenda was a major focus at the company’s 2026 Brokers’ Business Lunch, recently held at the Metropolitan Club, Lagos, with brokers, stakeholders and members of Cornerstone’s management team.
The gathering provided an opportunity to share the company’s broader strategic direction with the market, backed by the support of its majority shareholder, Chapel Hill Denham. The partnership with Chapel Hill Denham forms part of Cornerstone’s broader growth and transformation journey, as the company strengthens its business, enhances its market position and prepares for its next phase of growth.
The event was led by Stephen Alangbo, Managing Director/CEO, Cornerstone Insurance PLC; Kola Adekoya, Acting Managing Director, FIN Insurance Company LTD and Abdur Rasheed Babalola, Managing Director, Hilal Takaful Insurance.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Alangbo, outlined Cornerstone’s vision for its next phase of growth, highlighting the significant changes taking place across the business. At the heart of this journey is Cornerstone 3.0, a transformation programme focused on building a more agile, technology-driven and customer-centric insurance business. A key component of the transformation is the planned restructuring into Cornerstone Life and Cornerstone General, alongside the continued development of Hilal Takaful Insurance to expand the company’s Takaful offerings, subject to final approval by NAICOM.
Technology also remains a key component of the agenda, with the evolution of CiCi, Cornerstone’s AI-powered customer service platform, including its voicebot capability, aimed at making services such as enquiries, complaints, claims, policy renewals and insurance purchases more accessible.
Mr. Alangbo further reaffirmed their commitment to fast and efficient claims processing, recognising responsive claims service as central to delivering value and building customer trust.
The Brokers’ Lunch also provided an opportunity for Cornerstone to engage directly with the brokers, receive feedback and identify areas for improved collaboration. Stephen Alangbo acknowledged brokers as key drivers of the business and encouraged them to continue to consider Cornerstone as a first-choice partner for their clients’ corporate, individual and Takaful insurance needs.
The engagement reflects Cornerstone’s commitment to working closely with its broker network, as it advances its transformation agenda and builds a more agile, innovative and customer-focused insurance business.
The post Cornerstone Insurance Unveils “Cornerstone 3.0” Transformation Agenda at 2026 Brokers’ Business Lunch appeared first on Business Today NG.
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