Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has solicited the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) in streamlining the state’s economy to engender economic growth, employment, the development of vital infrastructure and technology, as well as enhance financial inclusion.
Governor Alia made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit on the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, in Abuja.
A statement on Thursday by the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Communications Strategy, Ms Bridget Tikyaa disclosed that Benue has vast opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, and other areas which it wanted the CBN to support the government to fully harness for local and international markets.
Governor Alia, according to the statement, urged the apex bank to support the state with its expertise in developing appropriate data in all the key areas for proper planning and strategic engagement with investors.
Gov Alia informed that the CBN Governor that the state’s Bureau of Statistics was aimed at enhancing the state’s statistical systems, boosting economy through job creation and foreign exchange activities and supporting our agricultural sector.
“We seek your support in providing system strengthening and equipment infrastructure for the Benue State Bureau of Statistics. This support will not only benefit the Benue State Government but will also enhance the capabilities of the CBN and Nigeria at large. A well-supported statistical system ensures we have reliable data to guide our economic policies and development strategies.”
Other areas as revealed by Governor Alia include support for the Benue State Bureau of Statistics to generate accurate data and conduct analysis.
The Governor also said “We seek support for initiatives such as the export of sesame seeds to China and exploring mining opportunities for export. These activities will diversify our economy, generate significant foreign exchange, and create employment opportunities for our people.
“Benue State is known for its agricultural prowess, producing crops such as soybeans, rice, cashew nuts, mangoes, oranges, sweet potatoes, yams, and others in abundance We seek your support in boosting the production of these crops. Enhancing food production will create jobs along the entire value chain, from farming to processing to distribution. Moreover, increasing the supply of these crops will help reduce food inflation, benefiting not only Benue State but also the entire country by ensuring food security.”
Alia also appealed for credit facilities and special intervention funds to key sectors such as agriculture, SMEs, and infrastructure development can target the specific needs of our state, particularly in agriculture.
Governor Alia equally sought for the training and capacity-building programmes for financial managers and policymakers in the state to enhance their ability to manage the state economy more effectively.
He requested the CBN to facilitate partnership with development finance institutions to fund large-scale projects such as agricultural mechanization, industrial parks, special economic zones, and major infrastructure projects to spur economic development across the state.
The Governor urged the apex bank to work with Benue State Government to develop and implement policies that improve the business environment, reduce bureaucracy, and attract domestic and foreign investments.
The governor appreciated the CBN for its support to the state, including the release of 60 trailers loaded with fertiliser, which was distributed to farmers to boost food production and achieve food security.
In his remarks, the CBN Governor commended Governor Alia for the visit and thanked him for the initiatives aimed at diversifying the economy and assured that the CBN would take necessary measures to bring the nation’s rising inflation under control.
The apex bank Governor also assured that he would consider the requests of the Governor even as other things were already being addressed.
