‘Presidency Lied’ – Umahi Denies Receiving ₦6bn For Ranching

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has berated the Presidency for saying it has released ₦6 billion naira for cattle ranching.

Naija News reports that Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, had in an interview on Wednesday said the Federal  Government has released ₦24 billion naira to Katsina, Yobe, Ebonyi, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the establishment of cattle ranching.

Shehu disclosed that the four states received ₦6 billion naira each, adding that eight other states will also receive theirs as soon as their applications have been processed.

But in a statement on Thursday signed by his spokesman, Francis Nwaze, Governor Umahi said the state government never at any time received any money for ranching.

The governor stated that the state government has always maintained that it has no land for ranching, adding that ranching is a private business and a personal venture.

He said: “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.

“We have received the news making the rounds that Ebonyi State is among the States in the Federation that has received the sum of ₦6billion 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 should any Ebonyian opt to engage in personal ranching, Ebonyians 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 reneging from the decision.“