Governor Godwin Obaseki has called on the Federal Government to provide funds to Edo indigenes wishing to establish ranches in the state.
Speaking with newsmen after his meeting with President Buhari in Abuja, the Governor said ranch was a capital intensive venture that could not be undertaken by the state government.
He said he viewed the establishment of ranch as a private business, which his administration should not be party to, hence the need for the central government to provide the funds needed for that.
Governor Obasaki said the state did not follow the bandwagon of establishing anti-open-grazing law because it wanted to be sure if it could enforce it.
He said the people of Edo State had told him during townhall meetings that ranch establishment was a private business just like every other agricultural venture, therefore those involved should provide the land for that purpose.
The Governor appealed to President Buhari to prevail on the National Livestock Transformation Programme to acknowledge their model, and assist Edo indigenes to establish ranches and other similar livestock programmes.
Governor Obaseki also said they discussed debts owed by federal agencies to the state, and appealed to him for intervention.
He commended the President’s role in efforts at retrieving Edo artefact from Europe and other countries, and assured him of his support to the Buhari Administration.
Reporting by Bello Wakili/Abdullah Bello, Editing by Tola Oguneye