A development expert, Engr Peter Terwase Tortiv-Ato, has backed Benue State anti open grazing, describing it as critical towards agro revolution and development.
He also stated that political will and practical, security-focused policies are essential to unlocking development in Benue State, particularly in agriculture, industry, and rural livelihoods.
Ato, a chartered civil and structural engineer, who has worked across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, while interacting with journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, argued that security and development were inextricably linked, and that without a secure environment, efforts to grow the economy will stall.
The development expert outlined how insecurity undermines agriculture, industrialisation, and the livelihoods of rural communities.
He emphasised that Benue’s agriculture remained the bedrock of the state’s economy but is hampered by threats that deter investment, disrupt supply chains, and erode market access.
“Security is the bedrock of development. All sectors of development – economy, health, education, among others depend on it.
“In Benue, agriculture is central, but insecurity stops people from investing, traders from traveling, and buyers from reaching markets.
“There was a time when traders came directly to Benue farms to buy produce; now, due to threats, those arrangements have collapsed. Even those who manage to produce cannot transport their goods safely”, Ato stated.
He pointed to a broader problem beyond roads and infrastructure: displacements, both physical and psychological, recalling a case where “a wealthy benefactor funded a community health centre; before construction could begin, the project was derailed by attacks, forcing funders to withdraw. Such incidents, he argued, illustrate how insecurity diverts resources away from development and into conflict containment”.
To move Benue forward, he called for a comprehensive approach that integrates security with economic planning.
He argued that the current security architecture in Nigeria is overly centralized and hampered by gaps in intelligence and inter-agency coordination. He urged a shift to intelligence-driven security that can preempt threats rather than merely responding to them.
In addressing immediate opportunities amid insecurity, Engr. Ato suggested practical measures to keep farmers in the field and markets functioning.
He proposed enhanced temporary security to allow harvests and the government’s strategic purchase of produce to prevent post-harvest losses.
By buying at prevailing market prices, storing, and ensuring market access, he said Benue could sustain farming activities and stabilize farmer incomes, even as security challenges persist.
Beyond agriculture, Ato spoke about industrialisation as a way to diversify Benue’s economy and create jobs.
He urged a joined-up strategy that focuses on processing and value addition rather than production alone.
“We need to approach our agriculture and our economy as a whole from added value perspective, what adds the most value? And this added value is not simply about naira and kobo.
“What generates the most employment? Think about the social value as well. Which sectors can generate the most employment? When produce gives you a return of, say, N1 million per day, or N1 billion per month.
“With that 1 billion naira, what comes along with it? How many people is it employing, and how many added businesses or secondary businesses can it provide? Is it supporting? So we need to look at all of that, and that would then give us a picture of which areas we should target our resources”, Ato emphasized.
On the controversial issue of grazing of animals, Ato argued that banning open grazing is a necessary step but not sufficient on its own.
He criticised what he described as inconsistent enforcement by the current administration and called for a more robust, cohesive policy.
His proposed solution includes establishing pilot ranches in each senatorial district with veterinary services and training facilities to model best practices in livestock management.
He also recommended subsidies for cattle feed to make ranching financially viable during a transition period, arguing that such subsidies can help people see ranching as a path to prosperity rather than a burden.
Regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs), Engr. Ato said state resources must ultimately aim to secure the people’s ancestral homes so that communities can return. He noted that infrastructure is often the easier part, while the root causes of displacement, persistent insecurity and lack of rural safety must be addressed to achieve durable settlement and development.
Ato’s broader vision rests on three pillars: security as a prerequisite for development, a focus on value chains and value addition to drive industrialisation, and local, community-centered strategies that can be scaled with national policy support.
He believes that with the right political will and intelligence-led approach, Benue can stabilise its rural economy, protect its farms, and create resilient communities.
