Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, has called on Nigerians to work for peaceful coexistence of the country as the World goes into a new year.
The Governor made this call in a new year message signed by his Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom,Terver Akase, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday.
Ortom who on behalf of his family and the State Government sent new year felicitations to Benue people and other Nigerians, also urged Nigerians to pray for the leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari to enable it surmount the current security and economic challenges facing the country.
The Governor said though year 2020 came with numerous challenges such as COVID-19 and increased insecurity, praises and glory must be given God for His grace and protection through the year.
He specially commended the State Action Committee on COVID-19, led by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu and all those who have been diligently serving in the frontline and the back end to contain the pandemic saying their selfless efforts have resulted in the relatively successful response to the virus in the state.
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He further cautioned the people that as they go into year 2021, they should remember the need to always observe COVID-19 protocol such as wearing of face masks, the use of hand sanitizers, physical distancing and avoiding crowded places.
Governor Ortom also appreciated Benue people for their support which he said helped in recording achievements in various sectors of the economy in form of projects in infrastructure, health, education and rural development.
He noted that the economic pressures and fiscal constraints of the outgoing year that prompted the 2020 downward budget revision have necessitated the adoption of new measures by governments at all levels to curtail the high rate of unemployment and poverty, insecurity, youth restiveness and breakdown in citizens’ trust of Government as demonstrated in the EndSARS protests.
He said arising from the Youth Summit recently held in the state, his administration is introducing programmes to give young people opportunities to maximize their potentials in entrepreneurship, particularly in the agriculture value chain, to add greater value to themselves and the state in general.
The Governor reminded indigenous entrepreneurs in particular of the existing opportunities such as the partnership the State has with Bank of Industry, BOI, to give loans at only 5% interest rate.
He encouraged the people to massively go into farming and other aspects of agriculture.
On security, Governor Ortom stressed that the steps taken by Benue State Security Council such as the ban on motorcycles and illegal revenue collection points in Katsina-Ala and Ukum have so far yielded positive results in the fight against crimes.
The Governor appreciated, very immensely, Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS), the State Police Command, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as all other security agencies for their untiring efforts in guaranteeing the safety of lives and property in the state assuring that his administration will continue to support them to succeed.
On the 2021 Appropriation christened ’Budget of Resilience’, the Governor Ortom said government is conscious of the need to strengthen the resolve of the people and the state as it seeks to recover from the global, national and sub-national economic and pandemic crisis which has adversely affected the economy.
Governor Ortom reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to providing development projects as resources of the state permit and in accordance with its principles of accountability and transparency.
