Barely 48 hours after rejecting Federal Government proposed National Livestock Transformation Plan, Benue stakeholders have made a U-turn and embraced the plan.

The Federal Government delegation from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources led by Dr Joseph Nyanger had on Wednesday met with stakeholders in the state on the proposed plan for NLTP.

The stakeholders during the first meeting had unanimously rejected the plan, described it as Ruga in another form.

“The National Livestock Transmission Plan is a Ruga in different regalia,” the stakeholders drawn from traditional institutions, the church, socio-cultural organisations, the academia, members of the Benue State Executive Council and the civil society had submitted.

But in the statement made on behalf of the stakeholders, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Timothy Ijir noted that the stakeholders’ earlier stand was uninformed.

Ijir in a statement made available to journalists on Friday said that the group met again and deliberated on the Federal Government proposed National Livestock Transformation Plan, stating that the plan was earlier rejected due to lack of adequate information.

Parts of the statement read, “After exhaustive deliberations, stakeholders resolved to reconsider their position in view of the fact that they now have enough information to make an informed decision.

“It was also resolved during the meeting that a technical team of experts be put together to study the NLTP document and identify areas suitable for implementation in Benue State based on peculiarities of the state.

“The meeting also resolved that the NLTP should be domesticated in Benue State and to ensure that it conforms with the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state,” parts of the statement read.

The statement further stated that the State Government is evolving its Agricultural Development Policy which captures the people’s interest.
©punch