The Benue State Government is compelled to respond to the recent Good Governance Rating Index (GGRI) report that ranked the State among Nigeria’s worst-governed states. We take an exception to this caliber of report and strongly disagree with these findings, which we believe are not only fundamentally flawed but misleading. The report also fails to account for the unique challenges the state faces, particularly the impacts of incessant herder attacks on farmers and other security issues. It is common knowledge that such reports must be based on certain parameters, taking into cognisance contextual leanings.
The GGRI report’s over reliance on data from unofficial government reports and independent audits without contextual understanding, undermines its credibility. We challenge the GGRI to consider the socio-economic and political realities on the ground, rather than relying solely on metrics that may not fully capture our progress or challenges. For instance, the report alleged that “insecurity, poverty and governance failures have combined to push the state deeper into crisis.” This assertion can not be further from the truth.
The data on the ground clearly reveals that despite these challenges, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has made significant strides in stabilizing the state and implementing policies aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens. However, the GGRI report’s heavy reliance on security metrics overlooks the fact that security falls within the purview of the federal government, leaving state governors with limited control over security apparatuses.
Anyone who has keenly followed the progress report of the Alia led administration will notice that the Benue State Government for the past two years has made significant strides in stabilizing the state and implementing policies and programs aimed at improving the quality of life for our citizens.
His Excellency Rev Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has prioritized sectors such as:
- Health: The Alia led administration has brought back to life, revitalized and transformed the Benue State teaching hospital which was once a death trap into a medical tourism center.
– Established a new cancer treatment center at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital to enhance healthcare access and quality. It will be the biggest in west Africa when completed.
– Ongoing Revitalization and Upgrading of primary Healthcare and other healthcare facilities across the state to improve service delivery.
– paying closer attention to medical students and workers and consistent payments of their entitlements to ensure uninterrupted study to ensure perfect medical products and workforce
- Education: Improved Educational Infrastructure by erecting storey buildings in all government owned primary schools across the state. A project which is ongoing through SUBEB
– Increased teacher intake numbering 9700 to enhance quality of education in the student.
. Awarding scholarships to outstanding students, such as 44 first-class graduates of Benue State University.
– Ensuring better quality of education through Benue State Bureau for education quality assurance.
– Introduced initiatives to promote girl child education
– Sponsoring students abroad for further education.
- Infrastructure: The Alia led administration has paid particularly attention to infrastructure, knowing that it is the bedrock of development. It has therefore embarked on massive road Construction and is Undertaking construction of over 390 kilometers of roads across all 23 Local Government Areas with under pass projects in Makurdi and Gboko to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety. Lighting has become a fundamental part of all major cities in the state and is progressively moving to rural areas. Buildings are being constantly renovated and reconstructed like the Benue State House of Assembly and the state secretariat, etc
- Agriculture
Gov Alia, in spite of all challenges in the state, is initiating a huge agricultural revolution in the state to stimulate food security and create jobs, targeting at least 20 million jobs.
The government has introduced the CRF scheme to revitalize agricultural practices among farmer groups.
The governor, since the assumption of office, has provided farm imputs like fertilizer, seeds, seedlings, herbicides, etc, right at the neak of time to ensure uninterrupted farm products.
He has introduced young farmer’s clubs to encourage young people to get back into farming with revolving loans.
The Governor recently introduced the Smallholder Farmer Outgrower Programme in partnership with Mass International & Equipment Nig. Ltd and SABASPAC Int’l.
10 clusters of farmers comprising 300 farmers are participating in this pilot scheme. The scheme will support farmers by intergrating the farmers into structured agricultural value chain designed to improve agricultural productivity through mechanized agriculture, provision of inputs, technical support and structured guaranteed produce markets for the farmers.
The objective of this programme is boost food security, commercialize agriculture in Benue State and boost economic independence amongst small holder farmers.
- The government has also implemented initiatives to empower citizens, including training programs, financial support, and other forms of assistance to empower women and youth through the Alia cares projects and other schemes.
– Distributed assorted relief materials to flood victims and vulnerable families.
– Secured palliative measures, such as a 5 billion Naira intervention fund, to cushion the effects of economic challenges on citizens.
- The governor has revitalized moribond companies like the Benue Printing and Publishing Ltd, Benue Breweries (renamed Zeva), Benue links transport company (that was up for sale) etc.
- The Benue State government is also set to build an airport to improve the economic inflow to the state.
- The state government through the BIPC has set up a bread Factory, water factory, nails manufacturing company and a juice factory. All of these are providing employment for the people and adding value to the economy.
- Security: It is worthy of note that even the insecurity which happens to be the parameter and basis upon which the GGRI is based, which we have already established that the Onus lies majorly on the Federal government, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has done credibly well. He has established Operation Anyam Nyor, a joint task force saddled with the responsibility of fighting insecurity in the state comprising all Security forces in the state at his disposal. He has also formed the Benue State civil Protection Guards with territorial knowledge of hinterlands to help regular security forces with timely information and assistance. To ensure the effectiveness of security operatives in the state, His Excellency donated 100 hilux trucks and 600 motor bikes. These and many more efforts including community and stakeholder engagements have yielded so much results and the state is now experiencing relative peace.
Summary:
What other indicators and indices are there to use when the Alia led administration has established/upgraded healthcare facilities, and increased access to healthcare services, built new schools, renovated old ones, recruited teachers, and improved educational infrastructure, introduced initiatives to promote girl-child education and provide scholarships to outstanding students, undertaken various infrastructure projects, including road construction, bridge building, and provision of solar powered electricity and is not relenting in providing training programs, financial support, and other forms of assistance to empower women and youth while at the same time initiating a revolution in Agriculture, reviving moribond companies and establishing new ones and ensuring constant payment of the workforce and pensioners while at the same time working very hard to return IDPs to their ancestral homes.
Conclusion!
In conclusion, it is very clear that all indices and indicators point to a huge improvement in the welfare and well-being of the citizens and the workforce in Benue State. The GGRI’S report is, therefore, a misrepresentation of the facts on the ground. We urge the GGRI and the public to consider the full picture, including ongoing efforts and achievements that reflect our commitment to good governance and service delivery. We remain dedicated to the welfare of our people and the development of Benue State, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving our goals. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and good governance, and we will not be swayed by biased reports that seek to undermine our efforts.
We are proud of the progress we have made so far, and we are committed to building on that progress. We will continue to prioritize the needs of our citizens, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that Benue State is a model of good governance and development in Nigeria.
– Chief Solomon Iorpev , Technical Adviser to the Benue State governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications
