By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Benue state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said that the process to return the people displaced by armed herdsmen, and who are currently sheltering in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) camps, back to their ancestral homes has commenced and is ongoing.
Governor Alia stated this Wednesday, when he featured on a phone-in program on the state radio to commemorate his first 100 days in office.
According to the governor, “although the IDPs are still in camps, they now go to their ancestral homes to farm, a situation which was not possible in the past”.
“returning the displaced people to their ancestral homes is a process. It involves very many other critical stakeholders. Already we have carried along all these stakeholders in all the processes we are following. We have three stages. We are done with the first stage which is dialogue. The second stage is almost completed too. Once this is done, we shall lead our people, holding their hands straight back to occupy their homesteads”, the governor said.
He pointed out however that, “this is a security issue which cannot be discussed in the open, but as soon as all the processes and modalities are completed, the people will be returned back to their homes”.
Governor Alia who also used the occasion to highlight some of his achievements in office within the period, said, “although my administration met a near collapsed system, we are on course to make the state better”.
He mentioned the payment of 4months’ salaries and pensions, provision of fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized rate, the flag-off of 16nos roads at different locations within Makurdi, the state capital, and sanitization of workers payroll which has saved the state of over 1billion, as some of his achievements in office so far.
Speaking further, the governor said, “my administration within the period has also put a stop to illegal and multiple taxation, paid the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) at a revised rate, increased the allowances of Corps members serving in the state, implemented the new retirement age for teachers in the state, lighted up streets in Makurdi metropolis and has also began the process of training 10,000 youths in ICT, amongst other things”.
Earlier in the day, the Gov Alia presided over the inaugural meeting of the state’s Executive Council in which, he briefed the Commissioners on the way forward, urging them to familiarize themselves with the blueprint of his administration.
The state Deputy governor, Barr. Sam Ode who briefed newsmen after the EXCO meeting said, “though no approvals were made as the meeting was an inaugural one, the people of the state should anticipate nothing short of good governance”
