*Commends Tinubu as renewed hope media team concludes project inspection
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue State has linked the renewed pace of infrastructural development and the revitalisation of key economic assets in the state, including the historic Taraku Mills, to increased federal allocations accruing to Benue under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The governor spoke when members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, concluded inspection of major Federal and Benue State governments’ projects across the state.
The delegation, comprising more than 40 editors and journalists, is touring projects to independently assess, document and showcase the implementation and impact of key Federal and State governments’ projects under the Tinubu administration.
Speaking during a media chat with the team, Governor Alia commended President Tinubu for creating a fiscal environment that has enabled the state to undertake more capital projects, pay salaries and pensions, strengthen critical infrastructure and revive moribund economic assets.
“The increased Federal Allocation has given us more fiscal space to do some of the things that we could not do before. We are using the resources responsibly to revive industries, build roads and provide infrastructure that will directly impact the lives of our people,” he said.
Governor Alia said the increased resources had strengthened the state’s capacity to address its infrastructure deficit while investing in projects capable of stimulating economic growth, creating jobs and improving livelihoods.
He particularly cited the ongoing rehabilitation of Taraku Mills in Gwer East Local Government Area as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to restoring Benue’s industrial base and converting the state’s agricultural advantage into economic prosperity.
Established in 1989 during the administration of the late Governor Aper Aku, Taraku Mills was once a major agro-processing facility producing vegetable oil, animal feeds and other agro-allied products. The state government has commenced rehabilitation and maintenance works towards restoring the facility to productive use.
According to the governor, the revival of the mill will strengthen the agricultural value chain by providing a ready market for farmers, particularly soybean producers, while creating jobs and stimulating economic activity in surrounding communities.
He said the administration’s vision goes beyond repairing old infrastructure to creating an integrated system in which farmers produce, industries process and markets distribute finished products, beginning with financial grants to smallholder and other farmers across the state.
Governor Alia also stressed the importance of prudent management of increased federal resources.
“Previous administrations tell me, and I hear what a number of people, including in the state, speak with the media, that the amount of money we are receiving now is way much more than what they were receiving from FAAC.
“What we receive from our federation account, it’s what enables us to do what we do and the attention we have given to re-energizing our internally generated revenue.”
He added: “The management skills of those funds is what would be of importance here. So, if the intent for what we receive the money is meant to take care of salaries, infrastructure, security, then it simply means the intention of the donor has to be respected.”
The governor reiterated that the resources must be deployed for the common good.
Governor Alia also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the Federal Government’s investment in road infrastructure across Benue and the wider North-Central region.
The media team inspected the ongoing Lafia Bypass and the dualisation of the 250.627-kilometre Section II of the Makurdi–Otukpo–9th Mile (Enugu) road, a strategic corridor linking Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu States.
The project is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Works and executed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
Governor Alia described the corridor as particularly important to Benue, Nigeria’s food basket, saying improved road connectivity would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce to major markets, reduce transportation costs and strengthen regional trade.
The team also inspected the 52-kilometre Awajir–Oju Road, a major Benue State Government’s intervention, cutting across Gwer East, Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas.
The governor said the state government’s road projects complement Federal Government’s interventions and demonstrate the importance of cooperation between the Federal and State Governments.
“Before we came in, we have seen how relationships between Benue and the Federal Government got bad. So the end result was that the state lost so much. People did not have relevance at the federal level and did not know what was actually happening from the central government.
“So, we had to renew our relationship with the centre and I thank God, this is why the Federal Government, Mr. President, has been quite good and supportive to us, the sub-nationals. Remember, we’re running a Federation.”
He commended President Tinubu for the Federal Government’s commitment to completing major road projects across the country, describing the Lafia Bypass–9th Mile (Enugu)–Otukpo–Makurdi corridor as transformative infrastructure with significant implications for commerce, agriculture, mobility and regional integration.
The governor thanked the media team for physically inspecting projects rather than relying solely on reports and statistics, saying the exercise would give Nigerians a first-hand view of the impact of the Renewed Hope agenda at the grassroots.
Earlier, the team leader, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, commended the developmental strides of the Benue State Government, particularly the ongoing Federal and State road projects along the Benue–Enugu corridor.
“When completed, this road, all the way to Enugu State, will be a road that will last for a very long time. I think the important thing, what I’ve seen so far, is that even though we have not even completed this road, it has shortened the travel time between Makurdi and Oturkpo, which is on the route.
“I learned the road was so bad that from Makurdi to Oturkpo used to take about three hours, but now just about one and a half hours or so. So this is a commendable project and I think President Tinubu deserves a lot of applause for touching almost every part of Nigeria, giving them one road or bridge or one infrastructure or the other.”
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo, said the team was in Benue to provide Nigerians with first-hand information on the pace of development.
The delegation also inspected the Otobi Waterworks in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The Director of Urban Water Supply and Quality Control, supervising the Benue State Water Board, Mrs. Juliet Maka, said the facility supplies Otukpo, Otobi and surrounding communities.
“The Otukpo town and Otobi community are benefiting from this water scheme now and Otukpo is a big town, so the system here is 10,000 cubic meters per day. We are already operating at full capacity.”The Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team’s inspection in Benue is part of its wider assessment of ongoing Federal and State Governments’ projects and their impact on citizens.
