Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has urged the United Nations (UN), to forge deeper ties with his administration, describing the partnership as essential to converting the State’s vulnerabilities into economic resilience in the midst of surging farmer-herder confclicts and climate pressures.
Speaking at Government House during a visit by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Governor Alia positioned Benue—long dubbed Nigeria’s “food basket”—as a linchpin in West Africa’s agricultural supply chain, now strained by conflicts displacing over 500,000 people.
“We seek not charity, but collaboration; not isolated projects, but integrated systems; not temporary relief, but lasting transformation,” Alia said.
NewsQuest reports that Governor Alia since taking office in 2023, has pursued an “integrated development agenda.”
The Governor while emphasizing institution-building over waiting for external aid, said “We are not waiting for change, but building structures that enable change.”
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Tersoo Kula in a statement said key initiatives by the government include rehabilitating 375 public schools and hiring 9,700 teachers to bolster basic education; reviving 104 rural health centers and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital to expand maternal and child care; and launching road projects to link rural farms with urban markets.
Governor Alia said the State has also trained more than 10,000 youths in digital skills.
Humanitarian aid remains a priority in conflict zones, with efforts to provide shelter, farmland, and livelihoods for the displaced. These are not just interventions; they are pathways from displacement to dignity, Governor Alia added.
The Benue State Governor proposed UN collaboration in five areas: River Benue restoration for climate resilience; agro-industrial mechanization; education and health investments; community security; and a new financing facility for sustainable development goals.
“Benue is ready to lead, to partner and to deliver results that matter—not just for Benue people, but as a model for Nigeria and the global community,” Governor Alia declared.
