Ebonyi insists no land for ranching, denies collecting FG’s N6bn

THE Ebonyi State government has restated that there is no land for ranching in the state, adding that it was not among states that reportedly collected N6 billion from the Federal Government for cattle ranching. 

According to the Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to Governor Dave Umahi, Francis Nwaeze, the clarification became necessary following rumours doing the round that the state was among those that had received such funds. 

The statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Thursday said there was no iota of truth in the claim. 

The statement read in part: “We have received the news making the rounds that Ebonyi is among the states in the federation that has received the sum of N6 billion each for ranching as attributed to the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, while responding to questions on Channels Television on Wednesday night and we wish to clarify as follows: 

“That Ebonyi State government never at any time received any money for ranching in the state and will not receive any money for the same purpose as there is no available land for ranching in the state; that should any Ebonyi people opt to engage in personal ranching, the people should see such venture as a personal decision of such person who must use his/her land for the purpose. 

“This is because Ebonyi State government has continued to maintain that there is no land for ranching in the state and it is not about to renege from the decision.”