Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has provided empowerment support to youths, women, and vulnerable groups across Benue State with tools valued at hundreds of millions of Naira.
The empowerment tools include five cars, 120 motorcycles, 120 sewing machines, 120 grinding machines, 150 irrigation pumps, communication gadgets, and other gadgets.
Minister Utsev who distributed the items to the beneficiaries during the event held in Makurdi on Saturday, said President Bola Tinubu, was appreciative of the youths for voting massively for him in 2023, and for also distancing themselves from the planned protests in the country last year.
He also stated that the empowerment was aimed at encouraging the youth and women to engage in commercial agriculture through irrigation farming, to achieve food security in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.
Utsev explained that “Today we are here to empower our youth, women, and vulnerable groups, and the President has asked me to thank you for voting him in 2023, and the youth especially for absenting yourselves from planned protests in the country.
While he stated that the items would further boost transport business among the youth, he reiterated that the move would reduce restiveness among the youth.
According to him, the tools were “to encourage youths and women to engage in commercial agriculture; boost transport business among youths; ensure that Benue youths and women were gainfully employed, and to reduce youth restiveness.”
Apart from this, he observed that the Federal Government was constructing dams to boost irrigation farming, which would check issues of flooding, and also constructing water schemes in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, as part of measures to end scarcity of water across the LGAs.
The Minister further stated that “We are constructing dams to boost irrigation farming and check River flooding at the banks of River Katsina-Ala and the banks of River Benue.
“The construction of water schemes across the country is ongoing and in all the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Benue state to end water scarcity in rural communities”, he stated.
Utsev therefore urged the people of the state to continue to pray for and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and himself to make Nigeria great again.
Furthermore, the Minister said, “In Benue, we have constructed a dam in Otukpo, we are carrying out a study and redesigning of Dura dam in Buruku LG, Ater dam in Tarka LG, Angbo dam, and Lessel Dam in Ushongo, Amile Dam in Kwande, and one in Naka for proper reconstruction.
“The Federal Government will also construct a major Dam in Katsina Ala LGA for irrigation, water supply, and hydro power generation.”
While he advised beneficiaries of the tools to put the items to good use, Utsev appreciated President Tinubu for appointing him and the SGF for his leadership in Benue.
Utsev urged voters in the state, who were yet to possess their voters’ cards, to take advantage of the ongoing voters registration exercise, to replicate and even surpass their votes for APC come 2027.
The Chairman of APC in Kwande LGA, Tersoo Kenti, who appreciated the SGF on behalf of the party in Kwande, said, “This is to show that our party is on ground in Benue. We appreciate the President for empowering the Minister to do this, and we are assuring that come 2027, he will get the highest votes in Benue state.”
On his part, the State Chairman of Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Ahmed Baba, who spoke on behalf of the Muslim community, stated that “Nigeria is coming back to its glory. We are seeing a transformation in the economic fortunes of the country, and we call on the Benue people and Nigerians at large to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to do more for the country.”
The APC woman leader, Princess Nancy Tyorhee, appreciated the President and Minister for recognizing women and putting smiles on their faces through the empowerment. She stated that by 2027, Benue women would deliver President Tinubu 100 percent.
Also speaking at the occasion, Rector, Federal Polytechnic Wannune, Tyover Ashinya, acknowledged the gesture of the Minister, describing it as a noble gesture, and pledged his preparedness to support him to do more.
Beneficiaries, at the event, appreciated the minister for the empowerment, pledging to use the items for the purposes for which it is meant.
