₦75bn For Cows? I Said No! – Ortom Exposes Sh*cking Loan Condition

Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has revealed that he turned down a ₦75 billion loan offer during his time in office because it came with a condition to repeal the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law.

During a media briefing in Makurdi, where he reflected on the challenges of his administration, Ortom explained that the loan package consisted of a ₦40 billion interest-free facility to offset salary arrears and another ₦35 billion for infrastructure development.

“I was offered ₦40 billion without interest to settle outstanding salaries—one of the major issues I faced—and ₦35 billion for infrastructure, but on the condition that I revoke the Anti-Open Grazing Law. I flatly rejected the offer,” he stated.

He insisted that the 2017 law was essential to protecting lives and property from violent herdsmen attacks and was not something he was willing to compromise.

Despite financial and political pressure, Ortom said he remained firm in enforcing the legislation, which he described as a necessary and lawful measure to address the ongoing killings and displacement of farming communities in the state.