…calls on FG to dredge River Benue

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Dr. Tor Uja has assured Benue Journalists that the state and Nigeria must be changed.

Rev. Uja stated this when he received members of the Benue Journalists’ Forum of Nigeria (BJFN) led by their National President Joseph Saater Undu in Abuja on Monday.

Uja who is also an indigene of Benue urged the people to invest in the state.

L-R: Mr. Denies Mernyi, member Benue Journalists’ Forum of Nigeria (BJFN), Mr. Terseer Jackson, Coordinator of BJFN, Rev. Dr. Tor Uja, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pigrime Commission (NCPC). National President, BJFN, Mr. Joseph Saater Undu, Mr. Daniel Tyokua, member BJFN and Mr. Terver Dominic, Treasurer of BJFN during BJFN’s courtesy visit to NCPC in Abuja on Monday.

He said; “We must change the story of Benue,  Nigeria and our people. There must be an investment platform  out of which the wealth will be shared.

“We need in Benue an investment platform else we are dweling on shared poverty. I want to assure that some steps will be taken towards industrialization of the state.”

He however,  blamed Benue elites for the economic and industrialization backwardness of the state.

“Our elites lack investment culture. They are short on investment initiatives but long on talking which never have positive effect on the citizens.

“The economic back bone of Benue is from the rural communities who produce food and cash crops that are been allowed to rotten away for lack of industrialization.”

He lamented that the poor investment attitude exhibited by the Benue elites who have the resources to do so has kept the state perpetually at the back stage of economic development.

According to him, without the culture of investment, lack of will and commitment to investment, the state will remain relegated to the background in all economic and commercial activities while other states have progressed ahead.

Dr Uja further called on the federal government to dredge the River Benue and establish a dry sea port as a deliberate plan to economic growth and enhance industrialization of Benue state.

He noted that, when completed, the project would not only provide mass employment for the teeming unemployed youths but will turn around the fortunes of the people of Benue and other states like Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba.

“We call on the federal government to dredge River Benue as this will help boast and uplift the economy and commercial status of Benue and other neighboring states .

“With the dredging of the river,  the federal government should  give us a dry sea port believing that in a short time the story of Benue will change.

“At the completion of the project, it is expected that the people must utilize it effectively and develop the culture of investment.”

Speaking earlier, the National President of BJFN Mr. Undu told the NCPC boss that their visit was to intimate him just like other prominent Benue sons and daughters in the positions of authority about the activities of the forum which is to ensure the unity and development of the state.

According to Undu, Benue state is currently faced with serious security challenges orchestrated by the continued attacks and killing of innocent people as well as the destruction of property and economic lifeline of the state and as such need to unite as a people to be able overcome them.”