From Scholastica Hir Makurdi, Makurdi
As a pathway to tackling the burning insecurity bedeviling the state, a renowned Nigerian-born engineer with a global footprints, Engr. Peter Tortiv-Ato, has states that there is no alternative for ban on open grazing in Benue.
Engr. Tortiv-Ato, a chartered civil and structural engineer who has worked across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, while interacting with journalists in Makurdi, on Wednesday, argued that security and development are inextricably linked, and that without a secure environment, efforts to grow the economy will stall.
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He called for a political will and practical, security-focused policies as essentials to unlocking development in Benue State, particularly in agriculture, industry, and rural livelihoods.
He criticized what he described as inconsistent enforcement of the anti open grazing law by the current administration and called for a more robust, cohesive policy implementation an called for the establishment of 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.
The development expert outlined how insecurity undermines agriculture, industrialisation, and the livelihoods of rural communities emphasizing that Benue’s agriculture remains the bedrock of the state’s economy but is hampered by threats that deter investment, disrupt supply chains, and erode market access.
He insisted that “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”, Engr. Ato stated.
He pointed to a broader problem beyond roads and infrastructure: displacements, both physical and psychological. Ato recalled 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, Ato called for a comprehensive approach that integrates security with economic planning saying current security architecture in Nigeria is overly centralized and hampered by gaps in intelligence and inter-agency coordination.
He said there is need for an 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 such as enhanced temporary security to allow harvests and the government’s strategic purchase of produce to prevent post-harvest losses, buying at prevailing market prices, storing, and ensuring market access among others.
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