By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia  of Benue State has promised to continue to build on his successes and the firm foundations of development which his administration laid in the areas of agriculture, education, economy, infrastructure, youth empowerment, social welfare and poverty alleviation.

The Governor who stated this during his New Year address to the people of the State in Makurdi assured that the state had not seen anything yet in terms of development under his watch.

The Governor stated that 2025 presented an opportunity for his administration to be even better than where it was in the last year noting that the new year would witness the consolidation of Renewed Hope, new possibilities and opportunities for his administration to improve the livelihoods of the people.

He said “As a state and as a people, the new year celebration marks the consolidation of our Renewed Hope, new possibilities and opportunities for us to improve our standard of living.

“Last year, we all saw and felt indicators of a new Benue which you and I are building – from the establishment of the Benue Multi-purpose ICT and Fashion Hub, to the revitalization/remodeling of the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation. This was coupled with the unveiling of the ZEVA Premium Lager Beer just a couple of weeks ago, as well as the ongoing construction of the Cancer treatment centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.

“We are not only working towards making our state a hub of industrial and economic activities; we are also determined to realize a Benue that sustainably breathes the air of premium quality healthcare services agreeing with global best practices.”

He identified security of lives and property as the key to effective development, emphasizing that it was the reason his administration recently unveiled the Benue Civil Protection Guard code-named “Anyam Nyor”, and equally donated vehicles and gadgets to the quasi-security outfit to support the mainstream security agencies in the state.

The Governor also pointed out other areas of intervention by his administration last year such as the implementation of the N75,000 minimum wage to improve the welfare of the workers and enhance optimum productivity, the donation 33 tractors and the sum of N380,000 to community interest groups to undertake climate-smart agricultural activities under the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) scheme of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) scheme, he promised further of his administration’s determination to continue to ensure yearly supply of farm inputs including fertilizer, pesticide, and improved seedling to farmers at subsidized rates, to boost agricultural output in the state.

He commended the people for standing with his administration in the face of obvious challenges, assuring that the 2025 budget of ‘Human Capital Development, Food Security and Digital Economy’ as well as the recent launch of the ‘Benue State 10-year Development Plan’, among other blueprints, promised more for the people of the state.

He said he was aware of reservations from a few individuals about his style of leadership of not spraying monies on the streets, insisting he was more concerned on using the monies for projects that would benefit every Benue citizen.

He said: “I am very much aware of a few expected pockets of reservations about my administration’s style of leadership, a style which is not keen on spraying monies on the streets for the masses to feed on and go hungry the next day.

“My administration instead, is more concerned with creating a system that benefits every individual and group in Benue – rich or poor, young or old, white or black. We are more determined in use those resources to build institutions, facilities, infrastructure, policies and enabling environments that are breeding grounds for growth irrespective of tribe, race or religion.”

The Governor urged the people of the state to reflect on his style of leadership and take a stand on what they believe “is the best possible path towards a new, greater and better Benue.”