Spokesman to the president, Garba Shehu, has amended his earlier claims that the Ebonyi State Government received N6 billion for ranching project in the state.

Mr Shehu came out to clarify on Thursday after the state government denied the claim he made during an interview Wednesday night on Channels TV.

“The Ebonyi State Government is correct in saying that they did not receive N6 billion for ranching. In that interview, I said “ranching and associated projects,” Mr Shehu clarified.

He said though it was true that Ebonyi was given the amount like three other states, it was not entirely for ranching purposes but also for allied projects.

“So far, about N24 billion has been disbursed to about four states for ranching and associated activities. Yobe has been given. Ebonyi has been given and FCT has been given. More than eight other states are now being processed for this payment,” Mr Shehu had mentioned during the interview.

But the state government quickly rebuffed the claim that it collected the money for ranching. Mr Shehu said the state government is right in his rebuttal as it has a “different priority” with the money.

“The State Government had a different priority for which they received their own part. But the source of the fund from which the four states benefited is of course the same. Had the interviewer asked for detail, this clarification will have been given in the course of the discussion,” he said.

The Buhari regime has been pushing to establish settlements for herders across the country amid push backs from some state’s who are arguing that the venture should be private sector driven since it is a commercial business of private citizens.

The Buhari is however trudging on despite resistance as it holds that the Ruga settlements are the only panacea to the decades of farmer-herder clashes across the country.