Delta State Government says it will not acquire any land for the purpose of ranching in the state as reported in certain quarters.
Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made the clarification in a statement on Friday in Asaba.
He said that ranching and livestock breeding, rearing and marketing was private business.
According to Aniagwu, Delta State Government is not acquiring lands for herdsmen as wrongly reported in some quarters.
He said that the bill before the State House of Assembly was for the regulation of livestock breeding, rearing and marketing in the state.
“Contrary to the misinformation in the public, the state is not acquiring any land for the purpose of establishing ranches.
“Ranching like any other business is a private concern and, therefore, anyone interested in establishing ranches in any part of the state is free to acquire land for the said purpose.
“The acquisition should be done in accordance with relevant laws that regulate private ownership of any legitimate business,” Aniagwu said.
He, however, urged the people of the state and the general public to disregard the rumour that government was providing land for herdsmen as alternative to ban on open grazing.
