Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia says security situation has improved across the State, following support from President Bola Tinubu.
The Governor made the declaration, while speaking to State House Correspondents, after he met behind closed doors with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He said due to improved security, many farmers were able to work on their farms in 2024, leading to a bumper harvest.
“So that is where we are in the security and relative peace is coming back to Benue, and we are quite happy about this. The level of farming has also increased since last year. So many people went back to their farms. And we have a lot of of harvests. We want to call it bumper harvest, because for many years, we never experienced that in the state. Some people are still harvesting, and it’s been all smiles.
“So we plan to do even higher this season. So even on the levels of insecurities, it’s gradually dying out.
“It’s said that insecurities never go away 100%. So, there might be one or two skirmishes. You hardly hear of anything, drones and tons of deaths and all that and disturbances. So I think that’s where we are. So we truly thank the President for his continued support for the state to stabilise even on the issue of insecurity.
“We thank him for challenging us to live up to the name of the food basket. So, we are back there, and I’m happy we had a very bumper harvest this season,” said the Governor.
He therefore, pledged the State government’s support for security agencies operating in Venue State.
“On Security, just a few weeks ago, three and a half weeks ago, we launched our support for all our security apparatus. So, we gave a number of trucks toward the security groupings, got them Toyota trucks in the numbers of 100 and then we also launched some support for the mainstream security. Our folks back home, who should be on alert and who should be supporting our primary security people,” he stated.
Governor Alia disclosed that he was in the State House to brief Vice President Shettima on the level of progress being recorded in farming, having received support from the Vice President in that regard.
The Governor added that farmers in the State would be encouraged to do more this year.
He said: “As an agrarian state Benue has mounted even more pressure on our folks, on our people, to get back on the farm. So during the campaigns, the Vice President as a candidate, promised he was going to support us with tractors and with some farm inputs so and he’s been doing that. And just like the President, who wants the state to live up to what we are, the food basket of the nation. So, the President has been supporting us very hugely, and then the Vice President as well.
“So once in a while, I try to let them know how far we’re doing on this farming issue and all that. But this year, we’re even going back to the farms 100%. Benue doesn’t have any need to talk about this food insecurities at all. Rather, we should be supporting the President to ensure that all the states that seem to be fighting food insecurities are strongly supported by Benue.
“So that is where we are and we will continue to do this. So I’m hoping that with the support we gained, we’re coming along, we’re doing so well, ” he stated.
He gave assurance that the state would be going back to 100% farming this season.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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