Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has announced plans to revive the Igumale Cement Factory and upgrade the College of Education, Oju, as part of efforts to boost industrial and educational development in the state.
Alia made the announcements during separate Town Hall Meetings with residents of the Oju/Obi and Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituencies in his ongoing statewide Town Hall Meetings and Thank-You Tour across Benue’s 11 federal constituencies.
The governor also assured residents that the ongoing construction of the Oju-Awajir Road would be completed, while promising additional projects to accelerate development in the area.
He urged Benue farmers to increase agricultural production, assuring them that investments in agro-industrial projects would create ready markets for their produce.
Alia cited the Food Basket Brewery, Fruit Juice Company, revived Taraku Mills and other industrial investments as efforts by his administration to establish a functional agricultural value chain.
According to him, the emerging agro-industrial sector would help reduce post-harvest losses and end the practice of farmers selling their produce at significantly reduced prices.
On security, the governor reiterated that no part of Benue would be ceded for ranching, insisting that the state’s land belonged to its people and should remain available for farming and other legitimate purposes.
He said his administration would continue to tackle insecurity until lasting peace was restored, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of an Army Division in Benue.
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Alia said the division, with its headquarters in Makurdi and deployments across strategic locations in the state, would strengthen security operations.
The governor also thanked the Igede people for supporting his administration and the president, urging them to sustain the partnership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, highlighted the administration’s interventions in roads, agriculture, agro-processing, healthcare, education and security across Benue South.
Ode said the projects reflected the administration’s commitment to balanced development and urged residents to continue supporting the government.
The APC State Chairman, Benjamin Omale, said the governor had prioritized the welfare of the people alongside physical infrastructure. He urged party members to strengthen grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Executive Chairman of Oju Local Government Council, Ominyi Adah, welcomed the governor and commended his administration’s interventions, assuring him of continued support.
The Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, Nicolas Oworo, also commended the governor’s achievements in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare and human development.
Similarly, the member representing Oju Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly and Chief Whip, Cyril Ikon, thanked the governor for the ongoing Oju-Awajir Road project and other interventions in the area.
At the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency meeting, Alia also engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders and other stakeholders as part of the statewide tour.
The Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government Council, Oche Oche, commended the administration for executing legacy projects and appointing indigenes of the constituency to government positions.
