Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State called on Wednesday for closer collaboration between his administration and the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC), to tackle insecurity, resettle displaced residents, and boost rural infrastructure.
Speaking in Makurdi, the State capital during a courtesy visit from the commission’s board and management—led by Barrister Cosmos Akighir and Dr. Cyril Tseenyil, Governor Alia emphasized his government’s progress in curbing violence.
He said “We have done a lot to ensure we have peace in the state.”
“We have drastically reduced the number of local governments that were gravely infested by insecurity,” he noted.
The Governor likened security threats to a regenerating “monster,” warning that new dangers emerge even as others recede.
Governor Alia stressed his commitment to returning thousands living in internally displaced persons camps to their ancestral homes. “The people of Benue State deserve peace to continue to feed the nation,” he said.
The Governor also sought partnership on agriculture, job creation, and rural roads, noting that long-term neglect demands sustained investment.
“In our budget this year, we have prioritized rural development. But because these particular areas were neglected for a long time, no matter how much money you budget for this area, it will not be easy to have an immediate impact,” he said.
The Benue State Governor urged the commission to remain apolitical.
“Once politics is introduced into a very sensitive commission like theirs, the main aim is defeated,” he said.
NewsQuest reports that Benue, seen as the ‘food basket’ has faced years of farmer-herder clashes and banditry, displacing tens of thousands.
