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Tag: Benue

  • Benue State invests N87m in rice production

    Benue State invests N87m in rice production

    As part of efforts to boost local production and marketing of rice and cassava, Benue State Government has released the sum of N87 million as counterpart fund to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

    The VCDP is a Federal Government of Nigeria and IFAD initiative that focuses on supporting cassava and rice value chains for smallholder farmers in six states of Benue Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.

    While  receiving the team from IFAD at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capitalm  Governor Samuel Ortom said the state is committed to pursuing its agricultural agenda and partnership with IFAD would contribute to actualising the vision of transforming Benue from “food basket” of the nation to food basket of Africa.

    He said: “We are known as the food basket of the nation and we intend to translate that into reality. The potential is there, we have what it takes to feed Nigeria, feed Africa and even export to other parts of the world.”

    The governor expressed commitment of the state to sustain collaboration with IFAD. “We are happy you are partnering with us. We believe with your experience and technical assistance we can get to that level. Benue is focusing on agriculture, it is our main agenda, which was why against all odds we provided the counterpart fund, we are serious and will do our best for our farmers,”

    He said Benue has comparative advantage in agriculture especially rice and cassava and that was why the state recently launched an agricultural agenda to woo investors to come and invest in the state.

    Ortom, who also disclosed that the state was seriously considering dry season farming, said the state would explore the advantage of the two rivers (Rivers Benue and Kastina Ala) in the next dry season for that purpose.

    In her remarks, IFAD Nigeria Country Programme Manager, Ms Atsuko Toda thanked the state government for paying its counterpart fund.

    “With the payment of your N87million counterpart fund, we are prepared to match that fund by four to five times each year and would ensure due diligence in utilising of your funds so that Benue farmers can enjoy improvement in their value chainm,” she said.

    The IFAD boss stated that Benue farmers and indeed, the entire state stands to benefit immensely from the programme, saying all that was required is the continuous commitment of the state government and cooperation of stakeholders to ensure better earnings for farmers.

    The VCDP,Toda further explained,  hopes to target 7,500 farmer households in four local government areas of the state,  including Guma, Gwer, Okpokwu and Logo both in skills set among other capacity building.

  • Benue gets teachers’ verification committee

    The Benue State Executive Council has set up a committee to organise a verification exercise for primary school teachers in the state preparatory to the introduction of the electronic payment system.

    Governor Samuel Ortom who chaired the eighth session of the council, announced that the Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, an engineer, would chair the committee.

    He said the committee has been charged with the responsibility of organising the successful conduct of the exercise by involving all stakeholders with integrity.

    These include retired senior civil servants, nominees from faith-based organisations, relevant unions, civil society organisations, security agencies as well as members of the state executive council.

    Other members of the committee include: Secretary to the State Government, Targema Takema; Chief of Staff, Terwase Orbunde; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. David Olofu; Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua; and Special Advisers on Research and Documentation, Dr. Adzer Abya, and Employment and Labor, Patricia Kupchi.

  • Benue High Court halts probe

    Justice Iorhemen Hwande of the Benue State High Court in Makurdi has halted the probe panel set up by Governor Samuel Ortom to investigate the financial dealings of his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam

    A statement by Gov. Ortom’s Special Adviser on Media and ITC, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, said the governor has accepted the court’s ruling. The court had ordered stay of proceedings on the probe.

    Governor Ortom said the suspension was a temporarily judicial process and that the state government’s lawyers would follow due process to vacate it.

    He expressed confidence in the judiciary, due process and the rule of law.

    “The governor explained that he set up the judicial panel to avail all concerned the opportunity to defend themselves in accordance with the core values of his administration, which include transparency,  fairness,  accountability and justice,” the statement said.

    Reacting to the calls that he should have extended the probe panels to the George Akume’s administration, the governor said he did not take over from the senator.

    He also said those, who voted for him specifically demanded that he should probe the immediate past administration.

    The probe, he said, is to know  why the state had been brought to its knees, so that his administration would avoid such pitfalls and learn lessons.

    The Governor stated that the people have expressed their wish that those who diverted public funds for personal use should be held accountable.

    “If possible, such funds or property should be recovered,” the statement added.

     

     

     

  • Benue PDP backs Ortom’s probe of Suswam

    Benue PDP backs Ortom’s probe of Suswam

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has backed the probe of former Governor Gabriel Suswam’s eight-year administration by his successor  Samuel Ortom.

    Speaking on behalf of the party at the Benue Stakeholders’ Forum at the weekend, Chief Abu King Shuluwa hailed the governor’s anti-corruption crusade and urged him not to leave anyone out.

    The elder statesman said the opposition was satisfied with the government of Ortom and urged him to learn from the mistakes of the past administration.

    “On corruption, you are doing well. Anybody who has stolen Benue money should be made to bring it back.

    “The PDP is very happy with you. The original PDP that I represent is very happy with you so far. Anybody hiding under PDP to say bad things about this government is not a member of my PDP–the original PDP.

    “We agree we made a mistake, but we are watching you, if you make the same mistakes of the past, we shall give you the opposition you have never imagined,” he said.

  • Benue commission threatens to arrest defaulters

    The Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Enquiry sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has threatened to arrest any individual who fails to respond to its summon for appearance.

    It issued the threat during its sitting at the weekend.

    More revelations have emerged from the public hearings of the probe commission.

    The Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Prof. Philip Ahire, said over N700million was spent on the 2012 local government elections.

    He admitted that the schedule for last year’s council poll was not approved as expected, but N20 million was later released in January for the postponed elections.

    The commission directed the BSIEC chairman to return on October 15 to tender the financial transactions in the conduct of past elections and provide receipts and payment vouchers.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Tertsea Ikyaabo, said the N97.7million generated from the sale of shops at the Makurdi International Market was lodged in a Diamond Bank Makurdi account in the name of Benue Integrated Market Development Company Ltd (BEMICO), managed by Mr. Sam Tor.

    He said N83million was withdrawn two days to the expiration of the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, leaving a balance of N14 million, stressing that no worker of the ministry was a signatory to the BEMICO account.

    According to him, on May 28, a company, Blessed Day International, withdrew N14 million, while Msughter Demekpe withdrew N20 million, and on May 29, Real World Integrated withdrew N29million and Robbing Minds – Solomon withdrew N19.8million, leaving a balance of only N14 million.

    Mr. Ikyaabo said the BEMICO account managed by Tor had two directors, who were signatory to its accounts, namely – Mr. Alex Adum, a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice and Mr. Austin Ode.

    He tendered other relevant documents as requested by the commission, alleging that the Suswam administration sold Benue shares in Benue Breweries Ltd, BBL and Agro Millers Makurdi.

    The Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Mrs. Bridget Sheidu, tendered the relevant documents requested by the commission, including expenditure and retirement of N72million, which a worker of BIPC, Mr. Terese Apenkasev, withdrew for the furnishing of BIPC Guest House and Events Centre in North Bank, Makurdi. The documents were duly admitted in evidence.

    The BIPC MD also tendered the voucher and receipt of N80million, which the management of the company gave one of its workers, Mr. John Tyokegh; a document Mrs. Sheidu said was used in buying a generator for the state Guest House in Kaduna.

  • Benue varsity builds basketball court

    Benue varsity builds basketball court

    The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, has commissioned a Basketball Court built by the Benue State University (BSU). The court, located behind the College of Medical Science, was built for medical students for them participate in extracurricular activities.

    Speaking at the event, state chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), represented by Dr Sam Sule, said he was elated by the development, encouraging students to always take part in exercise and sport.

    He said: “I am pleased with the development. NMA believes medical students should demonstrate fitness to represent their medical college in major competitions. So, I encourage the students to participate in sports just as they take their studies seriously.”

    President of Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA), Moses Agbulu, promised to mobilise students for sporting activities. The Students’ Union Government (SUG) president, Martins Orjime, praised the school management for providing the facilities to help students discover their potentials.

    He said: “Students, who have flare for basketball, can now train on the campus. I will advise the medical students to maintain the facility and use it to develop their talents.”

    Msonter Anzaa, a 400-Level Medicine and Surgery student, hailed the management and BESUMSA for the project. “As we now have a basketball court in the college, who knows if the school will produce the world champion in the game?” he said.

    After court was commissioned by the Speaker, one-minute silence was observed in memory of the late Nicholas Idoko Ejugwu, a medical student, who died in a car accident recently.

     

  • Benue Speaker advocates better welfare for teachers

    Benue Speaker advocates better welfare for teachers

    Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, has advocated a better welfare package for teachers so as to compliment the important role they play in reshaping learners into better citizens.

    He said the time has come for people who are in position of authority to consider themselves as the creation of teachers, and as such begin to fashion out policies and programmes that would reposition the teaching profession to its pride of place in the country.

    The Speaker in a message of felicitation to teachers in the state as they celebrated this year’s World Teachers Day, said the theme for the celebration, “Empowering Teachers, building sustainable societies” and the sub-theme as “Better working conditions for teachers as a means of better learning conditions for learners” were not only apt but timely.

    He argued that a society that does not empower its teachers through training, enhanced welfare packages and comfortable working environment would witness a steady decline in the quality of graduates.

    While acknowledging the difficulties being faced by teachers in the state as a result of delayed payment of salaries, the speaker blamed it on the last administration and appealed to teachers to be patient with the Ortom administration, assuring that everything was being done to alleviate their hardship.

    Ikyange charged teachers to rededicate themselves to the task of building a solid educational base for the country.

     

  • Ex-minister, 11 others jostle for Benue Varsity top job

    No fewer than 12 professors across various disciplines are contending for the post of Vice Chancellor at the Benue State University, Makurdi, which becomes vacant next month, when the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charity Angya will expire.

    The Nation’s investigation revealed that the immediate past Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and a Professor of Science Education Nicholas Akise Ada, is one of those in the frontline.

    Prof Ada, who lost out in the last race, told our reporter that he is optimistic to clinch the top job this time around.

    “I am well acquainted with this institution as the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Benue State University and to the best of my knowledge, I served with a deep sense of humility, dedication and courage for two terms, between 2011-2015.”

    Another contender, Prof. Joseph Fiase, who had his Ph.D in Nuclear Physics from Manchester University in United Kingdom in 1988, said if given an opportunity, he would instill discipline in students who, according to him, should graduate with acceptable conduct.

    “My vision is to provide a strong, purposeful, dynamic and visionary leadership to run the affairs of the university, to provide a well focused, innovative approach fully backed by a strong ICT (Information and Communications Technology) infrastructure that will reposition the university as centre of excellence and make it a world player in teaching, learning and research”. I intend to make Benue State University, Makurdi a first choice in Nigeria and Africa and to be among the top 200 universities in the world,” Fiase said.

    Revealing his vision for the university if appointed as vice chancellor, Joseph Kerker, a professor of Ethics, vowed to establish more faculties, departments and units that would collectively work for the system. He promised to facilitate the use of vehicles not only for deans and directors, but also heads of departments.

    Kerker told our reporter that he aimed to move workers in the institution away from the civil service training mentality, to a more professional and skill-oriented, all geared towards producing graduates that are self employed.

    Others in the race are: Peter Ortese, a professor of Counseling Psychology in the university; Armstrong Adejo, a professor of Diplomatic History, as well as Prof. Julius Ashiko who is the DVC (Administration) of the university.

    Others are: Francis Wegh, a professsor of Religion and Philosophy and Targema Iorvaa, a professor of Health Education.

    The immediate past vice chancellor of the university, Paul Akase Sorkar, described all contestants as qualified. He, however, cautioned that Angya’s successor must possess integrity and should be appointed by merit as his expertise would count in moving the institution to a greater height.

     

  • Benue proposes a bill for ranches

    Benue State Executive Council has proposed a bill for the establishment of ranches by cattle owners to reduce conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.

    Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Media and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Mr. Tahav Agerzua, in a statement, said the governor disclosed this when the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command of the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) Base, Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal R. A. Ojuawo paid him a visit.

    Ortom was quoted to have stated that when passed into law, the ranches would forestall the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in the state.

    “Governor Ortom said the initiative would be a permanent solution to the age-long conflict, adding that the establishment of ranches remained the best practice for cattle owners across the world.

    The governor, who expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Air Force for maintaining a cordial working relationship with the government and people of the state over the years, urged the officers and men of the command to help his administration to tackle the insecurity challenges confronting the State.

    Governor Ortom stressed that his government has taken proactive measures, including the declaration of an amnesty programme to recover illegal arms in the state in order to create a conducive environment for investment to thrive.

    Earlier, Air Marshal Ojuawo requested the governor to take proactive steps to sustain security in the state and explore the possibility of commencing flight operations from Abuja to Makurdi at least three times in a week.

    He expressed the resolve of the NAF BASE in Makurdi to continue to discharge its responsibilities creditably and requested the governor to visit the Command to see things for himself.

    Governor Ortom also hosted the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Yahaya Garba Ardo, the management of the University of Mkar, Graduate Internship Scheme of the Benue SURE-P, former staff of Taraku Oil Mills as well as the management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company.

     

     

     

  • Benue community leader dies

    Mama Nyiwan Uja,  the step mother of The Nation reporter in Benue State, Emmanuel Uja, is dead.

    She died last Thursday at Sabon Gida Takye in Gassol Local Government. She was 70.

    The woman is survived by two daughters, Ade and Nyimar.

    A statement by his step son said Mama Nyiwan Uja would be buried on October 17 at Tse Dzungwe, Mbakorya, Tommbo ward, Gaambetiev, Logo Local Government.