The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has called for a sincere collaboration between the North-Central Development Commission and Benue state government.
The Governor made the call at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi on Wednesday when he received the Board and Management of the Commission led by Barr. Cosmos Akighir and Dr. Cyril Tseenyil, on a courtesy visit.
Alia said his administration’s priority is to tackle insecurity and resettle all those displaced by the crisis.
He said, “we have done a lot to ensure we have peace in the state. We have drastically reduced the number of local governments that were gravely infested by insecurity.
“Already, there is relative peace in other larger parts of the state. But security is like a monster. Cut the tail and another part of the body will spring up. Cut the hand and you see another part of the body developing to cause havoc.
“Most importantly, we are resolute that our people must go back to their ancestral homes. The people of Benue State deserve peace to continue to feed the nation.”
Other areas he solicited for collaboration include agriculture, employment and rural infrastructure.
“Agriculture value chain must be in the front burner to create overreach on the demands”, he stated.
“In our budget this year, we have prioritized rural development. But because these particular areas were neglected for a long time, no matter how much money you budget for this area, it will not be easy to have immediate impact, hence the need for support from your commission.”
The Governor called on the Board and Management of the Commission to be apolitical so as not to derail from carrying out their duties.
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