1999 ECOWAS protocol on cross border grazing origin of insecurity in Benue — Governor Alia

Hyacinth Alia, Benue State Governor

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has attributed the prolonged insecurity in the state to Nigeria’s adoption of the 1999 ECOWAS protocol on cross-border grazing, describing it as the bedrock of the crisis that has displaced thousands and upended agrarian livelihoods in the state. 

Speaking in a detailed interview with Vanguard, the Catholic priest-turned-politician lamented the consequences of the protocol, which allows pastoralists from neighbouring West African countries to move freely across borders for grazing purposes. According to him, this framework, which Nigeria formally adopted in 1998, drastically altered the dynamic between local communities and herders.

“In our growing years, we used to see herders come during the dry season and leave afterwards. There was order. But post-1999, what we began to see was entirely different. What is happening now is not traditional grazing — it is planned, coordinated, and militarised displacement,” Alia said.

The governor explained that today’s incursions are no longer led by herders with sticks and machetes but by armed mercenaries who invade, kill, and push locals out of their ancestral lands before herdsmen arrive to take over. He believes this process is part of a larger agenda involving land grabbing, which has severely impacted Benue, known for its agricultural strength.

“As I speak, 17 of our 23 local governments are still grappling with internal displacement. We currently run 14 IDP camps across the state. These camps are a temporary solution, but our goal is to return our people to their ancestral lands,” Alia said.

Alia, who will mark 35 years in priesthood this July, said his transition into politics was driven by a sense of urgency. He was previously in charge of a proposed Catholic University in Vandeikya before taking leave to enter partisan politics.

“Being a priest prepared me for this role. We’ve always been in the business of supporting and fixing communities,” he said. “But politics has its own unique traits. Back in the Church, we are not accustomed to lying. In politics, I had to adjust quickly.”

The governor revealed that upon taking office, his administration collaborated with the United Nations through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to establish proper data on displaced persons, a step previous governments had failed to take. “Before we came in, there was no data. By June 2024, we had identified 500,000 displaced individuals, affecting over 870,000 families,” he noted.

Alia stressed that Nigeria must now reconsider its commitment to the ECOWAS protocol. “If the Federal Government re-engages ECOWAS and calls for a review or reversal, at least temporarily for Nigeria, it would be a major breakthrough in tackling internal security issues,” he added.

Highlighting the state's rich natural resources, including gold, lithium, uranium, and fertile land, Alia said these blessings have now become targets for criminal networks. He argued that these valuable assets have ironically become a curse, attracting violence and disorder.

The governor confirmed that most attackers are not indigenous, pointing out that Benue’s Kwanda Local Government shares a porous border with Cameroon, allowing easy incursion. “We know our people. When strangers come with different features, weapons, and tactics, we know the difference,” he said.

Nicknamed "Mr. 25" for consistently paying salaries by the 25th of every month, now even earlier, Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to financial responsibility. “When we came in, we inherited a debt of N359 billion, yet we still manage to pay civil servants, pensioners, and contractors. It's all about proper planning and strategy,” he said.

He noted that one of the first things his administration did was to ensure that civil servants and pensioners received their payments on time, debunking claims that the Federal Government had stopped financial support. “The support was coming in. The problem was what happened between Abuja and Makurdi,” he revealed.

Alia also highlighted the fiscal discipline he adopted from the Church. “We pinch the penny, and that has upset some elites used to unfettered access to public funds. They don't want to be taught how to fish; they just want the fish handed to them.”

On infrastructural projects like the Otobi/Otukpo and Katsina-Ala Water Works, he said his government had to pay debts left by previous administrations. “We didn’t bring those contractors, but we’ve paid what they were owed so they can continue the work.”

Addressing concerns over his relationship with the judiciary and political establishment ahead of the 2027 elections, Alia said there is no tension with the judiciary despite the controversy surrounding the Chief Judge. “We followed the law. The matter is now with the National Judicial Council (NJC),” he said.

Politically, Alia said, entrenched interests are fighting back against the reforms he is implementing. “The fight against corruption comes with resistance. Some people don’t want schools fixed, hospitals repaired, or salaries paid. They want business as usual,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Governor Alia remains optimistic. “We’ve shown Benue people that with the right strategy and willpower, change is possible. A new Benue is not a dream. It is already happening.”