…Tasks Gov Alia to partner FG in tacking insecurity
The Benue State Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in National Assembly, on Wednesday, endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria.
This was, even as the Caucus has called for greater synergies between Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, the relevance security agencies and the Federal Government, in ending the incessant insecurity in the state.
The endorsement is coming on the heels of defections, supports and top gear politicking across the country, ahead of 2027. Benue Caucus was the first group in the 10th National Assembly to adopt Tinubu for 2027.
Addressing the press in National Assembly on Wednesday, on behalf of his Colleague, Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North East) and the whole 10 House of Representatives Members returned under the APC from Benue State; Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West), said the endorsement was in appreciation of the many laudable projects and massive interventions by President Tinubu in Benue.
“We, the undersigned Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Caucus from Benue State — comprising two Senators out of three and ten out of the eleven House of Representatives Members, have convened this press conference to formally and unequivocally endorse His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for a second term in office.
“Our endorsement is rooted in a comprehensive assessment of President Tinubu’s transformative leadership, his unwavering commitment to national development, and the tangible achievements recorded under his administration since May 29, 2023”, Senator Zam said.
While highlighting the major achievements of the President in the State, the Caucus said, “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Benue State has witnessed unprecedented infrastructural development, significantly enhancing connectivity and economic activities”.
According to the Federal Lawmakers, Tinubu was able to facilitate the construction of 465-kilometer Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway, thereby enhancing connectivity and economic activities across the involved states; Makurdi-Aliade-Otukpo-Enugu Road, including the addition of a flyover at the Wurukum roundabout in Makurdi, aiming to improve transportation efficiency.
Other constructions include, the 1.7 kilometers Buruku Bridge over Katsina-Ala River, approved at a cost of ₦83.8 billion; the dualization of 9th Mile-Otukpo-Makurdi Road, aimed at reducing travel time and improve connectivity between Enugu, Makurdi, Abuja, and northern Nigeria; rehabilitation of the Oju–Cross River federal road, a long-neglected but economically vital route linking Benue to the South-South region, amongst others.
The Lawmakers said significant strides have been made by the President Tinubu led Federal Government in improving regional development, healthcare and education in Benue State; mentioning the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC), which aims to address developmental challenges in the North Central region, including Benue State.
“The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has received increased federal attention under this administration, with improved funding, infrastructure upgrades, and academic programme expansion. These interventions are strengthening the institution’s capacity to train the next generation of health professionals from within and beyond Benue.
“The Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo has benefited from enhanced federal support, including the provision of modern medical equipment, increased personnel, and improved funding for specialist services. This has elevated the hospital’s capacity to serve as both a practical training ground for medical students and a referral centre for quality healthcare delivery in the region.
“Infectious Disease Control Centre in Vandeikya: The federal government has approved the establishment of this center to address rising cases of infectious diseases in the state.
“The establishment of the Federal College of Agricultural Technology in Opialu Ojapo underscores the federal government’s commitment to advancing agricultural education and research in the region”, the Caucus added.
The Benue APC NASS Caucus also enunciated on the achievements of the President in Housing, Agriculture, Economic Empowerment, Fiscal Support and Social Welfare Initiatives, highlighting the construction of 250 affordable housing units in Benue State under the Renewed Hope Housing Estates program; the approval of 1,000 housing units in Benue State as part of the Pulaku initiative; amongst others.
Senator Zam also stressed “the allocation of ₦44 billion to Benue State, comprising ₦5 billion post-subsidy removal funds, ₦9 billion Infrastructure Fund, and ₦30 billion Subnational Intervention Fund”, saying, “the administration’s fiscal reforms have led to a doubling of government revenues, reaching over ₦9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024, thereby enhancing the federal government’s ability to support state-level initiatives”.
On the insecurity in Benue State, the National Assembly Caucus urged the Governor to close ranks with the Federal Government, through intelligence gathering and neighborhood watch, to make the fight against insecurity a successful fight, while commending the effort made so far by the President.
“On security, we commend the ongoing efforts of President Tinubu in deploying more resources and personnel to safeguard lives and property across Benue. However, we believe the fight against insecurity cannot be left to the federal government alone. We look forward to seeing more proactive collaboration and genuine intelligence gathering from the state government, as a critical step toward restoring peace and protecting our communities.
“As representatives of the people, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies in their efforts to restore peace and stability in Benue State. Within the full scope of our legislative powers, we will continue to advocate for and facilitate the necessary interventions to end the cycle of violence in our communities. Furthermore, we are determined to champion initiatives aimed at rebuilding affected areas and exploring avenues for compensation and support for our displaced farmers, whose resilience remains the backbone of our state’s economy.”