On 10th October, the 10th Benue State Assembly approved a request from the Executive Governor of Benue State Fr. Alia to obtain a loan facility to the sum of One Hundred Billion Naira (N100b). The session was presided by the speaker, Mr. Alfred Emberga, who read the governor’s letter of request.
That decision would be the first, in over two years, since coming to office that the state lawmaking body would approve a facility for the governor.
The facility, TNT learnt, will enable Fr. Alia finance projects in line with his seven-point agenda.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition party in the state through its spokesman, Mr. Tim Nyor has criticised the state assembly for approving what the party called “reckless fiscal adventure” loan for the governor.
In a swift response, Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor said the loan is not a frivolous or politically motivated borrowing but a strategic and development-driven intervention aimed at fast-tracking key infrastructure projects across the state.
According to the CPS, amongst other things, the loan is intended to finance the renovation and equipping of General Hospitals across the state; renovation and construction of science schools statewide to reposition education and promote technical learning; completion of ongoing roads, bridges, drainages, and electricity projects abandoned by previous administrations; building of skills acquisition centers to tackle youth unemployment through vocational training; construction and equipping of smart schools in all federal constituencies across the state to modernise learning; further development of infrastructure at the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh – a transformative educational project that will diversify the state’s economy and open new opportunities for innovation; and development of industrial clusters in the state.
