From Governance to Political Expectations

The declaration by the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, at the North-Central grassroots mobilisation rally for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has added a significant dimension to political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections. By pledging the support of Benue State for the presidential ticket, the governor has made a political commitment whose credibility will inevitably be assessed against his administration’s record in governance, service delivery and socioeconomic development.

Such a commitment is significant because Benue is a strategically important state in Nigeria’s North-Central region. Known as the Food Basket of the Nation, the state possesses considerable agricultural potential, a vibrant population, substantial human resources and opportunities for commercial and industrial development. Yet, its development trajectory has long been affected by insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, pressure on public finances and the challenges of translating agricultural productivity into widespread prosperity.

Since inception, the Alia led administration has pursued interventions across several sectors to close up the gaps and bridge the deficits in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, public administration and security. These initiatives provide a basis for examining the administration’s achievements, its developmental priorities and the conditions that could influence its political fortunes in 2027. These critical  programs and reforms initiated under the governor have translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

Infrastructure: Reconnecting Communities and Expanding Economic Opportunities

Infrastructure development has been one of the administration’s most visible priorities. Roads are particularly important to Benue because the state’s economic activities depend heavily on the movement of agricultural produce, people and commercial goods between rural communities and urban markets. This explains why as at June 2024 during his Democracy Day address, the governor reported that his government had awarded 51 road projects within its first year, including 16 strategic roads, and that several projects in Makurdi and other communities were nearing completion or remained under construction including the underpass projects in Makurdi and Gboko. As at today, two years later, about 534 kilometers of roads have awarded at different locations and at different phases of completion.

The administration has also pursued urban renewal and improvements to public infrastructure. The renovation of the State Secretariat and reconstruction of the State House of Assembly complex are all efforts to improve the working environment for public servants and strengthen the physical facilities supporting governance. The Light Up Makurdi initiative, designed to improve street lighting, similarly addresses urban safety, mobility and the attractiveness of the state capital to businesses and residents. In the transport sector, the government provided 100 buses to Benue Links Transport Company, alongside subsidised transport services and improvements to the company’s operational facilities. These investments have improved mobility, facilitated commerce and reduced  transportation costs.

These interventions matter beyond their immediate physical appearance. Rural roads can reduce post-harvest losses, connect farmers to buyers, improve access to schools and hospitals, and create opportunities for small businesses. The administration’s continued infrastructure drive is already producing broad-based economic benefits.

Agriculture: Modernising the Food Basket of the Nation

Agriculture occupies a central place in Benue’s economy and remains one of the sectors through which the administration has most directly influenced household welfare, employment and food security.

Governor Alia’s government has sought to move farming beyond exclusive dependence on manual labour towards mechanisation, improved seeds, fertiliser access and more organised agricultural production. The administration has also emphasised the revitalisation of agricultural institutions and collaboration with private-sector partners.

A notable development was the launch of the Agricultural Mechanisation Outgrower Programme in September 2025. The pilot scheme was designed to support ten farm clusters, comprising approximately 300 farmers, with access to tractors, improved seeds, other farm inputs and structured markets. The initiative which was developed in collaboration with Mass International and Equipment Nigeria Limited and SABASPAC International Limited, as at November 2025, had assembled 41 tractors including additional equipment like harvesters, threshers, planters, fertiliser applicators and yam pounders. More than 900 young people received training in tractor assembly, maintenance and modern agricultural techniques.

Another significant intervention worthy of mention is the Alia led administrations constant and timely provision of fertiliser and farm-input this happens yearly since inception. The distribution programme In June 2026, which is the last in the series, the government announced a 51 per cent fertiliser subsidy, reducing the price to ₦28,000 per bag, with the state absorbing the balance. This is indeed part of a bigger effort to reduce farmers’ production costs and encourage cultivation across the state’s 23 local government areas. There are other significant interventions through ACReSAL and RAAMP.

These initiatives address important constraints facing farmers, particularly the cost of inputs, limited access to machinery and the difficulties smallholder farmers encounter when attempting to expand production. The Alia led administration is working round the clock to ensure that Farmers get affordable and timely access to inputs, functioning equipment, rural roads and dependable markets so that

agriculture can become a stronger engine of employment, food security, rural incomes and agro-industrial development.

Healthcare: Strengthening Medical Services and Human Capital

Healthcare is another important measure of the administration’s commitment to social development. A productive population requires accessible medical services, competent healthcare professionals, functional facilities and affordable treatment. This is what the Alia administration knows more than most. The administration has undertaken an overhaul of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, employed more than 500 additional staff and commenced full clinical services at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital in Makurdi, which provides free services to pregnant women and children under five. The administration also  introduced financial incentives for medical personnel and trainees. These include a monthly allowance of ₦100,000 for doctors serving through the National Youth Service Corps and a medical-student bond scheme to support students of Benue origin studying medicine and has also fully implemented the revised Medical Residency Training Fund.

The state government under the watch of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has completed the renovation and reconstruction of over 380 primary health centers across the three senatorial zones. The Secondary tier of health care known as the General hospitals, is also receiving attention. These are exclusive of the ongoing construction of the Center Treatment Center in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

These measures are relevant because shortages of skilled medical personnel, professional migration and inadequate working conditions can weaken healthcare delivery. Incentives, improved training facilities and better-equipped hospitals can help attract and retain medical professionals. These investments are translating into better outcomes across the entire health system. Primary healthcare centres are now accessible in rural communities. For the Alia led administration Healthcare development is not only by hospital renovations and personnel appointments but also by ensuring that families obtain timely, affordable and effective treatment.

Education: Investing in the Next Generation

Education is central to Benue’s long-term development because it determines the skills, productivity and opportunities available to its younger population. The Alia led administration has recorded several education-sector interventions during its first year. These included payment of 2023/2024 WAEC, NECO and NABTEB examination fees for eligible students in government-approved public secondary schools, the distribution of more than 100,000 instructional materials and training for over 150 headteachers. Public primary schools are now enjoying high rise learning facilities and an engagement of about 9,700 workforce.

At the Moses Orshio Adasu University, the administration has expanded academic programmes, established new faculties, improved information and communications technology facilities, restored scholarships for medical students and payment of outstanding salary arrears. The government is also preparing thousands of young people for opportunities in the digital economy.

These measures recognise that educational progress requires more than school buildings. Students need learning materials, qualified teachers, functioning laboratories, digital resources and financial support that prevents economic hardship from interrupting their education. The administration’s 2025 budget also placed education among its development priorities. For the intentional leader, Father Alia, School attendance, teacher availability, examination performance, completion rates and graduate employability remain important indicators for Benue to realize the full benefits of educational investment.

Human Capital Development, Employment and Economic Revitalization

The development prospects of any state depend substantially on its ability to create productive employment and equip residents with practical skills. Beyond formal education, the administration’s agricultural mechanisation programme offers opportunities for training tractor operators, technicians and equipment-maintenance personnel. Such skills can support new businesses and create employment beyond conventional public-sector jobs. The government is also on the path to reviving some industrial assets, including Taraku Oil Mills, Otukpo burnt Bricks, Igumale cement factory and a host of others. The government has built the Food Basket Brewery, the Fruit Juice and Concentrate Factories and revived the Dan Agbese Printing Press with the objective of creating employment and improving internally generated revenue.

Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev Honourable Commissioner, Information and Orientation, Benue State.