By Amos Aar
BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday distributed improved palm seedlings to churches in the state as part of his administration’s efforts to ensure that every household owns a palm tree, thereby boosting the state’s economy.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, performed the distribution at the Benue Alia Palm Project (BPP) site in Makurdi. He assured of his administration’s sustained partnership with the church, noting that the institution has the capacity to spread the One Man, One Tree vision to every part of the state through its members.
In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on International Investment, Sir Alex Addingi, said that 4,000 improved palm seedlings were allocated each to the Nongo u Kristu u Ser u Sha Tar (NKST), the Catholic Church, and the Pentecostal Fellowship. He described the initiative as a deliberate effort by the Alia administration to ensure that every Benue resident owns a palm tree by the end of the government’s tenure.
Addingi explained that beyond distribution, beneficiaries were also being sensitized on how to plant and nurture the seedlings successfully. He personally demonstrated the planting process to representatives of the church leaders present, urging them to replicate the training among their members.
He further revealed that the state government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), a World Bank partnership programme, is already planting trees in communities across the state, with the Alia Palm Project complementing the initiative to achieve the One Man, One Tree vision.
Addingi also encouraged the Christian community to propagate the practice of irrigating plants such as oranges during the dry season in order to promote all-year-round farming, enhance food production, generate wealth, and drive industrialization in the state.
During the symbolic presentation of the seedlings, Rev. Akpen Leva, who represented the NKST; Bishop Timothy Kume, who represented the Pentecostal Fellowship, Benue Branch; and the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Isaac Dugu, represented by Mr. Sughnen Kumater, expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for the gesture. They assured that the message would be conveyed to their members for full participation.
