Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The Benue State Government has earmarked twenty percent of the 2025 budget of N550.1 billion amounting to one hundred and ten billion (N110 billion) naira on infrastructural development in the state.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday during budget breakdown, the Director General (DG), Benue State Planning Commission, Professor Jerome Andohol, disclosed that the money would be used for the construction of rural and urban roads including the completion of underpass in Makurdi and Gboko.
The DG said the state government also intended to construct a new Governor’s complex and other legacy buildings and as well renovate existing government buildings.
Andohol, who disclosed that the 2025 budget focused on the people, sustainability and innovation would develop human capital through education, health and poverty alleviation, food security accessibility, availability, affordability and utilisation and digital economy.
According to the DG, the proposed recurrent expenditure would stand at N192.5 billion and N357.6 capital expenditure respectively.
Andohol during the session revealed that education which takes N82. 5 billion government intends to construct faculty of Engineering at the Benue State University campus Ihugh at the cost of N15. 3 billion, upgrade secondary and technical colleges in the three senatorial zones, build maintenance and purchase of furniture in schools across the 23 Local Government Areas at the cost of N4. 4 billion as well as carry out maintenance work across tertiary institutions in the state and safe school initiative.
He said government would upgrade general hospital in zone A to a specialist hospital N968million, purchase of medical equipment, drugs and other consumables at the cost of N15. 2 billion, rehabilitate and upgrade medical facilities in secondary healthcare centers at N1. 3 billion, upgrade and purchase of other consumables at teaching hospital at N7. 8 billion, rehabilitate and construct primary healthcare centers via Hope Initiative, construction and purchase equipment in the oncology/ cancer center at BSUTH, renovate and upgrade the state medical stores/ pharmacy warehouse Apir and enhance the nutrition budget across MDAs.
The State Government, the DG said would upgrade Makurdi modern market, reconstruct abattoir in North Bank, revitalize BIPC for agricultural market aggregation towards curtailing agricultural post- harvest losses, encourage cooperative, trade and investment, establish 12 markets in the three senatorial districts of the state among others.
In the area of poverty alleviation Andohol said government would spend 9.1 billion by reinvigorating Benue State social investment Agency, offer conditional grants to 10,000 SMEs, institutionalize state operations Coordinating Unit in Charge of the state Social Register and scaling up economic empowerment initiatives of NG cares tagged” Alia Cares”.
He noted that in security, law and justice, government has earmarked about 71.8 billion for the purchase of vehicles and security gadgets for ” Anyam Nyor” as well as support of other security agencies, recruitment and training of ” Anyam Nyor” security personnel while N110 billion allocated to infrastructure for construction of rural and urban roads including completion of under- pass in Gboko and Makurdi, completion of two water schemes in Otukpo and Katsina-ala, renovation of existing government buildings and construction of new governor’s complex and other legacy buildings, while agriculture and food security will consume N84.08 billion, digital economy N18.7 billion and Social Welfare N5.09 billion, stressing that government will construction skills acquisition centres in 3 senatorial districts for 600 female IDPs at various camps, completion of conference hall at SEMA and establishment of technical and innovation hubs in 3 senatorial zones, operation light up Makurdi, Otukpo, Katsina-ala and enhancing power distribution across the state.
Andohol who said the budget would be funded through federation account with N430.3 billion, independent revenue of N35.5 billion,aids and grants of N26.4b and capital development fund receipt of N57.7 billion said government intends to invest in human capital, address workforce challenges, rehabilitate infrastructure, promote sustainability,develop digital economy and innovation, enhance food security, strengthen security and social welfare.
Commenting the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula noted that the state government under the leadership of Governor Alia was committed to transparency and accountability and urged journalists to always cross check their facts before going to press as he insisted that government would not give room for speculation.
