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Tag: Benue State Government

  • Benue Government, World Bank and the new empowerment initiative for women

    Benue Government, World Bank and the new empowerment initiative for women

    By Bridget Tikyaa

    Benue State Government just last week engaged with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and a World Bank team to activate the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) in the state. This is a World Bank-backed initiative aimed at empowering women economically across Nigeria.

    With a $500 million funding, the project targets over 4 million women in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on financial inclusion, livelihood support, and social protection.

    Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who has always prioritised issues of women empowerment since coming into office, has therefore given a nod for the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) to roll in the state. The governor’s support for women is a deep-rooted initiative anchored on the belief in their capacity to transform society.

    For Benue State, which has approximately 3,329,000 women, about 50.3% of the total population, leveraging the opportunity offered by the NFWP-SU is not only rational but necessary to raise their economic status, given the fact that the programme seeks to increase access to financial services for women, provide training and resources for income-generating activities, and offer support for vulnerable women and communities.

    During the engagement with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Makurdi on January 13, 2026, the discussions focused on improving women’s livelihoods, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting inclusive development across selected local government areas in the state.

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    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Theresa Odachi Ikwue, described the engagement as timely and strategic, as the the programme aligns with the development agenda of Governor Alia which prioritises human capital development and grassroots economic empowerment.

    The women empowerment programme will kick start in Vandeikya, Okpokwu, and Gwer East Local Government Areas, and according to the the ministry, women aged 18 to 70 years are eligible to benefit, but must have valid National Identification Number (NIN).

    With this, it has become imperative for families and community leaders to support women in communities, whether mothers, wives, sisters or elderly relatives, to obtain their NIN, in order to fully participate in the programme and access its economic and social benefits.

    Mr. Afolabi Olajide of the Federal Project Coordinating Unit said the Nigeria for Women Project seeks to institutionalise Women’s Affinity Groups to support income generation and community development, while

    Mr. Yusuf Abdullahi, Monitoring and Evaluation Anchor, said Benue State is participating in the second phase of the project, with technical support from Abuja and the recruitment of qualified civil servants from the selected local government areas.

    The Co-Task Team Leader of the NFWP-SU, Mrs. Yetunde Fatogun said the programme is designed to address gender inequality and improve women’s economic participation while adhering to World Bank recruitment and quality standards.

    As the programme gets set to roll, the next phase would involve advocacy visits to the leadership of Vandeikya, Okpokwu, and Gwer East Local Government Areas.

    This is no doubt a big intervention programme that will further deepen the state government’s unwavering commitment to women, especially those struggling to meet their basic needs, those displaced by conflicts, urity_: Conflict and displacement have disrupted economic activities, and women facing barriers to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment

    Governor Alia has initiated several programmes to empower women in Benue State, including the Project 774 Explode, an initiative that provides financial assistance, skills acquisition training, and mentorship to women. Over 5,000 women benefited from the programme across the 23 local government areas of Benue State.

    There is also the No Woman, No Nation, and Alia Cares programmes initiated to uplift 6,000 women from poverty and promote gender equality.

    The government also offers grants and soft loans to women through their cooperative groups to kick-start trade, agriculture, petty businesses, and other ventures.

    The Alia administration also provided skills acquisition training for women in various fields like fashion design, catering, ICT, welding, carpentry, and solar energy installation. The statement government has also facilitated loans from the Bank of Agriculture Grants for over 27,600 women to support their economic empowerment initiatives.

    These initiatives demonstrate Governor Alia’s commitment to empowering women in Benue State. These programs have improved the lives of many women in the state, enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute to the state’s economic growth. The governor’s commitment to empowering women has been praised by various stakeholders, including the National Association of Women Journalists.

    • Tikyaa PSA Media, Publicity and Communications Strategy

  • Benue Govt begins process to return IDPs home

    Benue Govt begins process to return IDPs home

    The Benue State government has initiated the process of returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

    The exercise commenced on Friday, October 17, 2024, at the IDP camp located at Baka along 72 Barracks Road in North Bank, Makurdi. 

    This initiative marks a significant step toward fulfilling Governor Alia’s campaign promise to repatriate IDPs.

    Aondowase Kunde, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, coordinated the effort in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other stakeholders on behalf of the Governor. 

    A total of 3,698 IDPs, comprising 1,114 households from the Baka camp in North Bank, will be relocated to a temporary facility constructed along the Makurdi-Gbajimba Road.

    Hon. Kunde explained that it has been the desire of the Governor that deliberate moves be taken to achieve the all important objective of returning IDPs to their ancestral homes

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    He added that in search of durable solutions, the government of Benue State in partnership with International Organization for Migration (IOM has constructed temporary homes to accommodate the IDPs pending their eventual return to their very ancestral homes.

    According to the commissioner, the government does not intend to keep the people in those camps for more than a year as the state action plan for durable solutions prepares to launch another return next month.

    The Camp Chairman, Samson Unum and the Camp Women Leader Patricia Nyikor who spoke on behalf of the IDPs appreciated the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia for a more decent accommodation with water, light and security for them.

    Some of the IDPs had been in the camps forpre than 20 years ,occasion by armed herdsmen attacks against peasant farmers.

    Some IDPs who spoke to The Nation expressed  gratitude to Governor Hyacinth Alia ,for the privilege to return home to farming after many years in camps. 

  • Benue accounts: Court orders service of processes on EFCC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the service of processes on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to a suit by the Benue State Government, challenging its investigation and the alleged freezing of the state’s accounts by the anti-graft agency.

    Justice Babatunde Quadri issued the order on Thursday after listening to Benue State’s  Emeka Etiaba (SAN),who argued an ex-parte motion to that effect.

    Justice Quadri, who acceded to the plaintiff’s request to have the case heard during vacation, also ordered that processes in the case be served on other respondents before the next hearing date fixed for August ‎14, 2018.

    Other respondents in the suit marked: FHC/MKD/CS/42/18, are the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly; the Clerk, Benue State House of Assembly; Benue State House of Assembly and the Auditor-General, Benue State.

    Etiaba argued that it was wrong to allow the EFCC investigate the accounts of the state under any guise without due authorisation of the Benue State House of Assembly, as required under Section 128 and 129 of the Constitution.

    The plaintiff, in its originating summons, wants the court to among others, declare that by the provisions of sections 6, 7 and 38(1) of the EFCC Act and any other law, beyond the Benue State House of Assembly and the Auditor- General, Benue State (4th and 5th respondents), the EFCC or any other body has no power to investigate and/or inquire into the accounts and/or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government having regard to the clear provisions of Sections 1 (1) and (3): 125(2). (4) and (6), 128 and 129 of the Constitution

    It also seeks: “A declaration that in the absence of any resolution duly passed by the Benue State House of Assembly pursuant to Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution authorizing the EFCC or any other body, authority or person to investigate the accounts or make inquisitions into the accounts and/or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government, the EFCC or any other body, authority or person cannot commence or continue investigations and/or inquisitions with respect thereof.

    “A declaration that the commencement or continued invitations of officials of Benue State Government on account of investigation of Benue Government accounts, investigations and/or inquisitions into the accounts and/or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government by the EFCC or any other body, authority or person under any guise without authorization by the 2nd to 4th defendants vide a duly passed resolution negate the Doctrine of Separation of Powers as enshrined under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Constitution.

    “A declaration that the continued invitations of officials of Benue State Government, investigations and/or inquisitions into the accounts and/or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government by the EFCC or any other body, authority or person amount to usurpation of the Powers of the Benue State House of Assembly and the Auditor General, Benue State, having regard to Sections 125 (2), (4) and (6), 128 and 129 of the Constitution.

    “A declaration that the demands made by the 1st defendant, invitations of officials of Benue State Government and subsequent investigations violate the express provisions of Sections 125, 128 and 129 of the Constitution.

    “A declaration that the 2nd to 4th defendants are not permitted to surrender or share their powers of control over the public funds of Benue State as provided by the Constitution to the 1st defendant or any other body, authority or person.

    “A declaration that the EFCC Act is an inferior; legislation to the Constitution and where any provision in the Act ultra vires the provisions of the Constitution, such provision becomes null and void and of no effect.

    The plaintiff also wants an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from surrendering\ or sharing their powers of control over the public funds of Benue State as provided under Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution to the 1st defendant or to any other body, authority or person.

    The suit is supported by a 35 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Samuel Orchir, who averred that the business of governance has suffered tremendously by the intermittent interferences and demands by the EFCC, on the officials of the Benue State government to furnish it with documents relating to the accounts and /or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of the state.

    He stated that some officials of the state were invited and detained by the EFCC and thereby denying the state of their services.

    According to him, some of the officers invited for interrogation by the EFCC, according to the affidavit are Permanent Secretary, Government House; Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services; Mr. Kato Ijir; Secretary to the State Government; Mr. Agbo Omada (Assistant Director, Finance); Terwase Orbunde (Chief of Staff to the Governor); Dr. Dura Magdalene (Special Assistant Adviser on SDG’s to the governor) and Mr. Stephen Amase.

     

  • Anti-grazing law: Miyetti Allah, Ortom disagree over implementation date

    Anti-grazing law: Miyetti Allah, Ortom disagree over implementation date

    There is rising tension in Benue State as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and the Benue State Government continued to be at logger-head over the November 1 deadline, set for implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

    MACBAN Secretary General, Baba Ngelzarma, on Tuesday in Abuja said the law should be reviewed to reflect ‘human face’ and identified need to amend necessary grey areas that could cause misunderstanding between both parties.

    He said the law did not give recognition to the transnational routes which the herdsmen are used to.

    But the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Terver Akase, insisted that the state had given enough time for considerations and conducted adequate enlightenment, thus the implementation would commence as planned.  Ngelzarma and Akase spoke live on popular Channels programme.

    Ngelzarma stated that members of the association and other pastoralist are already ‘jittery’ over the law, thus need for the state government to reconsider its position on the implementation date.

    Ngelzarma, who is MACBAN spokesperson completely kicked against the law. He stressed need to enlighten rural farmers in the state as well as pastoralist on the law.

    He said: “We will only support the law so long it won’t affect our members. We are suspicious of the law. Our members are still jittery over it. Immediately the law is implemented, people will start going after our cattle because some of these people don’t understand the law.

    “The law is against the fundamental human rights of our members. So we want human face to it. We have met with the Governor over this and he promised to ensure the law protects the pastoralist and the farmers but that is not the case. As soon as the law is implemented other neighbouring states will want to do the same and this will cause problem for our members.

    “So we want the National Assembly and the President to enact a law that will solve this problem once and for all. During the public hearing we were not also invited to have our input.”

    In his remarks, Akase said the law was signed May 2nd, 2017 but the Governor decided to suspend its implantation until November 1, 2017.

    He added that six pilot ranches are being established as part of measures to create sustainable solutions on the crisis.

    “The implementation of the law has to commence. It is definite,’ he said.

    According to him, the law was not out to witch-hunt anybody, stressing that public announcement was made repeatedly in the three senatorial zones in the state.

    “The bill was initiated and discussed in the State Assembly, so enough time was given,” Akase added.

     

  • Suswam lied about N5b bond, says Benue govt

    Suswam lied about N5b bond, says Benue govt

    The Benue State government has said the administration of former governor, Dr Gabriel Suswam, collected a N5 billion bond before leaving office contrary to claims he purportedly recently made.

    According to a statement Tuesday by Governor Samuel Ortom’s Special Adviser, Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, Suswam applied for the money to carry out road construction, but diverted it to offset a bank overdraft.

    Agerzua said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement signed by the former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, to the effect that his administration did not collect the N5 billion bond which he applied for to spend on some roads before vacating office.

    “He stated categorically that his administration did not collect one naira from that bond. However, numerous official documents with respect to the transaction have debunked and controverted the claims of the former governor.

    “Indeed the documents have provided incontrovertible proof that the bulk of the bond, N4.5billion, was diverted to offset an overdraft which the administration took from a bank and not spent on any of the roads as specified in the terms of the bond.”

    Agerzua stated that when Governor Ortom became aware of the alleged fraud, he engaged former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, to investigate the matter.

    Ortom, Agerzua said, petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) “which investigated and discovered that the terms of the bond had been breached and that the bank had colluded with the former governor to divert the proceeds of the bond into purposes other than what it was intended for.”

    He continued: “One of the documents which confirm the diversion is a letter written by the former Accountant-General, Mr. Joseph Kpaakpa, and Director of Treasury, Mr Asen Kwagh-Har to The Regional Manager, United Bank for Africa Plc, Makurdi Branch on 1st April, 2015 that they had ‘authorised the full liquidation of the overdraft facility of N4.5 billion from Bond ll proceeds account.’

    “At a recent meeting of officials of the bank, SEC, and officials of the state government including the Commissioner of Finance, Mr. David Olofu, and Secretary to State Government, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN, the bank accepted liability and promised to refund the money.

    It is therefore, surprising that Dr Suswam would deny receiving the bond.”

    He accused Suswam of not coming clean about past government deals

    According to him, the former governor took an advertorial in one of the national dailies to refute news of the sale of Benue State Government shares, but this was later confirmed to be true.

    “He also later sold the state’s shares in Julius Berger as well,” Agerzua added.

    He said: “Every statement Governor Ortom makes with regard to how his predecessor conducted the affairs of state is backed by available documents as was reflected in the report of the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry which uncovered the loot of over N107 billion from Benue State government coffers by the former governor and 51 others.

    “In the case of the N5 billion bond there is abundant documentary evidence of the fraud perpetrated by the former governor.”

    The former governor, according to Agerzua, had no need to borrow at all considering “the enormous resources that came into the state during the Suswam years.”

    “As for the Ortom administration Benue people know that borrowing was inevitable given the circumstances of a deficit treasury and huge financial challenges it inherited from predecessors who plundered and brought the state to its knees.

    “Moreover, the people are getting full value for what was borrowed in terms of infrastructure and other projects in all sectors across the state.

    “The many lies of former governor Suswam and his cohorts which are targeted at smearing the hard-earned reputation of Governor Ortom and his administration will be exposed one by one like the case at hand.”

     

  • Benue to relaunch monthly sanitation

    Benue to relaunch monthly sanitation

    In order to enhance cleaner environment, the Benue state government is to relaunch the monthly sanitation exercise.

    Disclosing this when the leadership of the Union of Tipper and Quarry  Employers  of Nigeria, Benue state chapter, called on him at Benue People’s House Wednesday, Governor Samuel Ortom said cleanliness is next to Godliness.

    The governor said the state government would partner with the union and directed the commissioner for water resources and his special assistant on sanitation and public utility to liaise with the members on the various ways of promoting partnership.

    He said he was aware that the union gives a lot of services and employ a lot of people and assured that efforts would be made towards providing the members with another operational site after the old one had been given to Benue Links after litigation.

    Ortom urged the leadership of the union not to further lament the loss of their operational site, stressing that the commissioner for works and the special adviser on lands and survey would work towards providing a new site.

    He promised to look into the issue of inclusion of a member of the union in the government when the situation improves and assured that their services would however be required by the state government.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers, Benue state chapter, Mr Fidelis Orhungwu Ahuraza, who spoke through Mr Akajime Dyoro, had said they were not surprised that Governor Ortom has had elevation since he served as council chairman and became party official at state and national levels before becoming minister because of his transparent nature.

    Ahuraza said Governor Ortom has been fighting corruption and added that they have been witnesses to the renovation at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, graduation of medical students and the declaration of every Friday as work-free day for workers to go to farm.

  • N4.29 billion fraud: ‘Ortom not under investigation’

    N4.29 billion fraud: ‘Ortom not under investigation’

    Benue State Government has denied media reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was investigating Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, over N4.29 billion fraud.

    In press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, which was made available to The  Nation said the allegations which are false and mischievous are calculated at tarnishing the image of the Governor and his administration.

    Governor Ortom and his officials are not under investigation by any anti-graft body.
    The reports claimed that they were based on three petitions sent to the EFCC.

    According to the reports, Governor Ortom siphoned over N2.6 billion through the bank account of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Emmanuel Udende.

    Mr. Udende has already issued a statement denying the authencity of the said bank details.
    “EFCC does not need to be told when huge money hits somebody’s account because the Nigerian Financial Intelligence, NFI Unit is an arm of the Commission which alerts them about all large sums transactions,” he stated.

    “The glo phone number provided in the report is not mine. I don’t have a driving licence. I use my international passport in my transactions. The Bank accounts provided are also not mine. No funds were transferred into my accounts as contained in the report at any point. My bank accounts do not have such amounts of money mentioned.”

    “If truly EFCC has received a petition of that nature, why have they not invited me up till now? Should we be hearing about the said petition on the pages of newspapers?” The lawmaker queried.

    Checks at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs where an alleged N929, 903,967.00 was stolen by two persons revealed the following.

    Mr. Festus Andoor is the cashier of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who has the mandate to make withdrawals from the Joint Allocation Account Committee’s Bank account as approved by the 23 local government chairmen at JAAC meetings.

    These approvals include disbursement of funds to tackle security challenges especially herdsmen’s attacks in the 23 local government areas in recent times as well as other emergencies such as the burial of the late Tor Tiv Orchivirigh Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula.

    The withdrawals made, covered the amount mentioned in the allegations and fell within the period quoted by the publications.

    With regard to John J Bako, he is a police officer overseeing the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state.

    It is on record that the immediate past administration instituted an arrangement of providing monthly logistics to support the squad in the local government areas.
    The current administration inherited this policy and sustained it.

    None of the amounts referred to has been paid into any private account belonging to Governor Samuel Ortom’s associates as alleged.

    It is to be noted that the figures quoted in the publications with regard to the Bureau were contained in the submissions it voluntarily presented to the Public Accounts Committee of the State House of Assembly.

    The public is to note that no official of the Bureau or the executive arm is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC for any reason whatsoever and there is no basis for such.

    The publications are part of a grand design by those indicted by the Kpojime Commission for looting N107 billion from the coffers of the state who are using part of the resources to fight the Ortom administration.

    I appeal to members of the public to disregard the spurious allegations and be assured that efforts to recover the loot are on course.