By Chesa Chesa
The Benue State Government has inaugurated the Benue State Economic and Policy Advisory Council (BSEPAC), a high-level advisory body established to provide strategic, independent and evidence-based policy advice in support of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s development agenda.
The Council is expected to strengthen governance, accelerate sustainable economic growth, attract domestic and foreign investment, and expand economic opportunities for the people of the state as Benue seeks to leverage emerging opportunities in agriculture, energy, solid minerals, manufacturing and infrastructure.
According to the framework establishing the Council, BSEPAC will serve as the Governor’s premier strategic advisory body, offering practical recommendations on economic planning, fiscal sustainability, investment promotion, industrialisation, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education, healthcare, digital innovation, security and environmental sustainability.
It will also support the development of a one-year acceleration plan, a five-year economic transformation strategy and a 30-year Benue Advancement Plan designed to position the state as a leading investment destination in Nigeria.
Among the 15 distinguished professionals appointed to the Council is Mr. Patrick O. Okigbo III, Founding Partner of Nextier and a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Economic Coordination Council. With nearly three decades of experience in economic strategy, public policy, investment advisory and governance, Okigbo joins experts drawn from academia, finance, energy, law, technology, development finance and the public sector to provide multidisciplinary policy support to the state government.
Reflecting on his appointment, Okigbo said his previous experience leading the lease and transformation of a fruit concentrate plant in Makurdi convinced him that Benue’s greatest economic opportunity lies beyond primary agriculture.
“Earlier in my career, I had the privilege of leading the lease and transformation of a fruit concentrate plant in Makurdi. That experience convinced me that Benue’s greatest opportunity lies not simply in being Nigeria’s food basket, but in becoming one of Africa’s leading centres of agro-industrial production,” he said.
He added that he looked forward to working with Governor Alia and fellow council members to develop policies that would move the state from agricultural abundance to industrial competitiveness and broad-based prosperity.
The Council will operate strictly in an advisory capacity without executive or regulatory powers, meeting periodically and working through specialised committees supported by a technical secretariat. It is expected to improve policy formulation, enhance coordination of economic reforms, strengthen fiscal management, increase investor confidence, promote job creation and attract greater private sector participation in the state’s development.
Its immediate agenda includes preparing recommendations on Benue’s electricity market development under the Electricity Act, investment promotion and ease-of-doing-business reforms, agricultural value-chain industrialisation, solid minerals development, infrastructure financing through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), fiscal sustainability and strategies to boost internally generated revenue.
The Council is also expected to advise on youth employment, entrepreneurship and skills development to ensure inclusive economic growth.
Membership of the Council cuts across economics, banking, public finance, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, law, technology, academia, development finance and governance. The multidisciplinary composition is intended to provide independent, research-driven advice that complements the work of Ministries, Departments and Agencies while helping the government anticipate national and global economic trends and respond with practical policy solutions.
