Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has called for sincere collaboration between the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) and Benue State Government (BNSG).
Fr. Alia made the call at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, on Wednesday, March 11, when he hosted the Board and Management of the NCDC, led by Mr Cosmos Akighir, Esq, and Dr Cyril Tseenyil, who were in the state for a courtesy call.
He said his administration’s priority is to ensure insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum and the people living in IDP camps are finally resettled.
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 the governor solicited collaboration in, according to his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, include agriculture, employment, and infrastructure in rural areas.
“Agriculture value chain must be on the front burner to create a response to the demands,” he stated.
“In our budget this year, we have prioritised 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 an immediate impact, hence the need for support from your commission”, he added.
The governor called on the Board and Management of the Commission to try their best to be apolitical, adding that once politics is introduced into a very sensitive commission like theirs, the main aim is defeated.
In his remarks, Mr Akighir expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for granting the Commission audience and outlined the mandate of the NCDC, including promoting security, infrastructure development, and regional growth.
According to Mr Akighir, NCDC is committed to partnering with the BNSG to achieve greater development for the state and the entire North Central region.
