By Amos Aar
BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, has denied allegations that the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law introduced by the immediate past administration under Samuel Ortom to end herder-farmer crisis has been repealed by his administration.
Alia, who made this known on Wednesday during the 2024 democracy day celebration held at IBB Square Makurdi despite the current influx of herders in the state and the attacks being reported in many parts of the state, said his administration has rather strengthened the law and they have signed another law to support the establishment of a new state security outfit in addition to the state volunteer guards introduced by the previous administration.
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“My good people of Benue, make no mistakes about the misinformation making the rounds that the Anti-open Grazing Law has been repealed. As a matter of fact, the Law has been strengthened with more stringent stipulations.
“We have also signed into law, the establishment of a state security outfit known as the Benue State Civil Protection Guards: A formidable force combining our Livestock Guards and Volunteer Guards to effectively tackle insecurity in our dear state”, Alia stated
The governor debunked the notion that government has no business in doing business, saying that his government has revived all moribund state owned companies.
“My esteemed people of Benue, as you recall, when we came on board, our industries were moribund, with many on the brink of being taken over by private hands. We however, said a firm ‘no’ to the glorified wisdom of the last administration that “Government has no business in doing business.
“Today, I proudly inform you that we have initiated the re-establishment and resuscitation of these industries, including Benue Breweries, Taraku Oil Mills, amongst others. This aims at creating more job opportunities for our teeming youths, as well as improving our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)”.
Speaking further on his achievements so far, governor Alia informed Benue people that among other projects, his administration has undertaken the construction of 16 roads in Makurdi metropolis out of which 98 percent of the roads have been completed while others are under construction.
“We commenced the construction of 16 strategic roads in Makurdi and other parts of the State, particularly linking our rural communities. 98% of these roads have been completed, while others are still under construction.
“In total, our administration has awarded 51 road projects within just one year, including three underpass projects in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo Local Government Areas, respectively”.
He promised that under two weeks, beginning from June 12, 2024, about 400-km roads “statewide will be declared and contracted for construction across the state”.
In the area of transportation, Alia promised to purchase unspecified number of Keke Napeps and motorcycles for Benue youths.
“With the yearnings and strong desire of Keke people, in a few months time, we are going to buy a good number of Okada and Keke for you gentlemen”, he pledged.
