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… Reels out achievements in one year
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has pledged his commitment to delivering democracy dividend to the people of the state to ensure continued happiness and progress of the masses.
Governor Alia, who spoke at IBB Square in Makurdi on Wednesday, June 12, during the Democracy Day celebration, highlighted some of his significant and mouthwatering achievements in office in the last one year especially in the areas of Infrastructure, health, agriculture, education, international investments among others areas.
He noted that throughout the period under review, he earned nothing close to love from those whose selfish interests he had to step upon to bring comfort, happiness, and succour to the Benue people saying “But I have no regrets for what I have lost in the cause of this journey.”
He said ”Over a year ago, I stood here and made lofty but achievable promises to you. These promises, enshrined in our 7-point agenda, ranged from economic growth, to infrastructural development, security of lives and property, prompt payment of salaries and pensions/gratuities, amongst others.
”Upon assumption of office, we met Benue in an economic ditch. We immediately hit the ground running by engendering economic growth through agriculture. Accordingly, we procured100 trucks of fertilizer which was distributed to farmers at subsidized rates.
“We have distributed 300 metric tons of fertilizer at 50 percent subsidized rate to make the product available and affordable too all farmers in this state as a result fertilizer was sold atN12,500 instead of N25,000. The impact so far has been tremendous,” he said.
He stated that Benue State Government under his leadership has constructed 51 number of road projects across the state including 19 network of roads within Makurdi, the state capital, two major under passes simultaneously ongoing in Makurdi and Gboko LGA while that of Otukpo has also been awarded.
He said the roads which were 98 percent completed covers 400 kms across the state and would be flagged off soon.
He also stated that under housing, his administration has reconstructed and modernized the Benue State House of Assembly complex, renovated and furnished the state secretariat as well as Government House though not yet completed, while the “Light up Makurdi” street light project beginning from the toll gate to the Air Force Base and other parts of the town is being done.
Governor Alia disclosed that in the bid to ensure effective study and service delivery in the health sector, his administration was the first in Nigeria to implement the Revised Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF 2023 for resident doctors at the revised rate.
He also introduced the medical Bond Scheme for medical students of the School of Health Sciences Benue State University Makurdi by approving N100,000 per student and also approved payment of N100,000 monthly allowances for corps members serving in Benue state among others.
“We have overhauled the Benue State University Teaching Hospital to meet international standards. We have also employed 500 new staff on merit, to augment the workforce.
“Our administration has also commenced full clinical services at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, Makurdi, to reduce maternal mortality and offer free medical services to women and children under the age of five. Meanwhile, plans are underway to ensure an effective primary healthcare delivery system in the state.”
He noted that when he came on board Benue industries were moribund and some were at the verge of being taken over by private individuals.
Governor Alia said under his one year, the government have initiated the re-establishment and resuscitation of the industries, including Benue Breweries, Taraku Oil Mills, amongst others aimed at creating more job opportunities for the teeming youths, as well as improving the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
In the transport sec
