In a bid to tackle its security challenge, the Benue State Government is set to launch a 10,000 man security outfit to complement the efforts of other security agencies in the state.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made this known during the expanded stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Government House, Makurdi.
The governor explained that the launch of the security outfit “will aid in securing Benue communities and enable rural farmers to access their farm lands without fear.”
He said his administration was already working towards procuring Hilux vans and motorcycles that would be used for patrols across the length and breath of the state by the personnel of the outfit.
The governor lauded the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies in securing the state and the country at large assuring that the new outfit which would be launched before the end of May would be made up of Benue youths.
Alia also explained that he called for the meeting after being granted clearance by the Commissioner of Police given the embargo on political gatherings in the state stressing that the meeting availed him the opportunity to brief members of the party the plans put in place by the government to tackle the security challenge facing the state.
The governor informed the stakeholders that “some enemies of the state had gone to invite unknown gunmen to come into Benue and destabilize its peace, but that the government has been able to push the invaders back to where they came from, and will continue to do so until they are all gone, to enable the farmers return to farm to ensure food security for the state.”
He also stated that his administration had made significant progress in the area of infrastructural development including the construction of rural and urban roads, assuring that he would work very hard to make Benue great.
According to him, his government had made a lot of impact in the health sector, with the recruitment of over 400 medical and non medical personnel at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and he intended to revamp both the primary and secondary healthcare systems across the state, assuring that the State’s School of Nursing would soon be re-opened, with the government paying half of the tuition for indigenous student who would return to study in the institution.
He also intimated of his administration’s plan to reintroduce scholarship award to students of the state, encourage skills acquisition programmes for the youths as well as encourage the study of science related courses.
He said his administration had awarded contracts for the construction over 50 roads across the state to be completed within 12 months.
The governor noted that some people were not happy that his administration was making progress and doing things differently from the past, aasuring that he would continue to ensure that the right thing was done for the overall good of the state.
He insisted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state was a united house without any form of wrangling stating that the leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Mr. Benjamin Omakolo remains the valid APC State Executive in the state.
He also lauded the Tor Tiv, HRM Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse and the Tiv Traditional Council for their intervention to ensure that his relationship with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, who he described as Statesmen, was rancour free.
He warned those trying to destabilize the state with divisive comments to stay clear as he would not allow anyone to destabilize the government, including those who served the state in the past.
Earlier, the acting APC state chairman, Mr. Benjamin Omakolo also dispelled the rumor making the rounds that the Governor was at loggerheads with APC in the state insisting that the Governor had no hand in the suspension of Mr. Austin Agada as State Chairman of the party.
In their separate remarks, Senator Barnabas Gemade, responding on behalf of Zone A elders and stakeholders, Mr. Hinga Biem for Zone B, Nelson Alapa for Zone C, Scholastica Sough for the Women, Adah Nath for the youths, and Saater Tiseer for the Members of the Benue State House of Assembly lauded the Governor for his developmental strides in the state.
The deputy governor, Mr. Sam Ode, who declared that he was solidly behind the Governor assured the people of Benue South where he hails from that the government had lots of good plans for them and sued for their sustained support for the administration.
