From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has stated that his administration is targeting to expand the agric and agro business sector in the state, with the introduction of modern production methods that will put a smile on the faces of Benue farmers.
Governor Alia stated this in Makurdi, on Friday while addressing newsmen and his supporters in Government House shortly after his return from an official trip of the United States of America.
Governor Alia who expressed gratitude for the warm welcome given to him, said his administration is also looking at the processing industry to stop post-harvest wastages incurred by the farmers in the state.
He enthused that “Our pitches in the United States of America were on the productivity of our state including agriculture and the modernization of it. We as a government are strictly looking at the expansion of Agric and Agro-business in the state.
Our next phase of this shift will probably be the processing industry. We usually incur post-harvest wastages. So we will make a shift where the farmers will gain, and we will also gain as a state.”
Alia who noted that his administration is closing arrangements to get seeds and inputs for the farmers, urged the Benue people to form farm cooperatives and take advantage of the opportunities provided by his administration to contribute to food security and also put money in their pockets.
He pledged the commitment of his administration to continue to do more to help farmers saying “in this new Benue, I want farmers to smile.”
Speaking on the visit generally, the Governor said he and many of his colleague governors from the North had met with the Nigerian Professionals’ Network, where fruitful discussions were held for the overall good of their various states.
He added that they also met the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, who understands the backward nature of Benue as a state, and has made it a priority to ensure that Benue is no longer cut off from the national mix.
“I was away in the last eight days to sell the image of the state and clear its image. Benue wasn’t even at the national radar but very soon, the state is going to be a model where other states will come to learn and replicate in their own states.
“A number of fronts took me to the United States, primarily Washington DC and we achieved a number of things. Our initial meeting was with the Nigerian Professionals’ Network; a network that makes business pitches for business groups, including the Nigerian leadership in business. It was a very productive trip overall. Two governors were privileged to be there at their own invite (myself and the governor of Niger State).
“Our second meeting was with the United Nations under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary General, Her Excellency, Amina Mohammed, who remains very gracious to the entire nation of ours. She has shown a lot of interest in Benue.
“She understands how backward we have been. She understands much of our cut-off from the national mix. So it remains her priority to ensure that the state goes back in line and what is ours, comes back to us,” he said.
Governor said the entire visit to the States dwelled on the peace and security of the people of Northern Nigeria, and the models needed to apply in order to achieve lasting peace in the region and the country as a whole.
He said the state will also get to know and understand the benefits of the trip once the entire entourage returns back to Benue.
“I don’t want to preempt what our team will bring back for us but it is not going to be nothing less than four impressive and positive items for the state,” he said.
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