Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said his administration has kept the pledge to work hard to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the Benue people, irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliations.
Governor Ortom said this during a press briefing with journalists while presenting his scorecard in Makurdi on Saturday to mark the year 2021 Democracy day.
He said in spite of the economic and security challenges confronting the country and Benue in particular, his administration has made maximum use of the available resources to provide basic infrastructure to the people.
Ortom said that in the last six years, his administration has made commendable progress in the area of road infrastructure, education, agriculture, rural development, and healthcare delivery in the state.
“As you are all well aware, Benue State has faced devastating security challenges and inadequacy of funds which have adversely affected our efforts towards development.
“COVID-19 pandemic and the fiscal constraints that prompted the 2020 downward budget revision are still very much with us.
“In spite of our challenges especially insecurity instigated by Fulani herdsmen invasion, we have recorded numerous achievements in Security, Agriculture, Education, Health, Infrastructure and several other sectors,” Ortom said.
He said Benue State under his watch has been providing vehicles, security gadgets and other logistics support to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to enable them perform their duties efficiently.
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According to him, the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 is regarded as the most famous legislation initiated by the Executive Council during his time and in spite of the resistance from Miyetti Allah groups, the Law is being faithfully enforced with over 400 people who have violated the legislation arrested and many of them already convicted.
He also expressed happiness that the law is gaining nationwide acceptance with the Northern and Southern States Governors’ Forum banning open grazing and adopted ranching as best practice of animal husbandry in their domain.
He commended all the security agencies Benue State Police for their efforts in the task of guaranteeing peace in the state saying those who lost their lives in the course of protecting the people will never be forgotten but will forever remain the heroes and heroines of the fight against crime and terrorism in Nigeria.
Governor Ortom also named the construction of several new roads within Makurdi, the state capital and other local governments in the state including the Customary Court road renamed as Senator Gabriel Suswam road, Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters road, Terwase Agbadu-Yaikyo road and Federal High Court road North Bank Makurdi.
“We have also constructed and commissioned Imande-Akpu-Origbo-Gbajimba road, while work is progressing on Taraku – Naka road, Daudu-Gbajimba road as well as Abuku-Jingir-Tyogbenda-Wombo road to mention a few.
He however regretted that the renewed attacks in the state has put a heavy burden on the state resource by increasing the number of IDPs from over 1million to 1.5 million.
He called on Benue people, international community and many others who are good at heart to support IDPs in the state.
The Governor who thanked the entire Benue people for their support for his administration in the last six years therefore reiterated that his mandate is selfless service and that he is fully committed to it in delivering democracy dividends to the people.
