GOVERNOR Hyacinth Alia’s emergence as the APC’s flag bearer for 2027 general elections with 367,786 votes in the Benue primaries wasn’t just a party affair. It was a public vote of confidence in three years of governance that has shifted Benue’s narrative from drift to direction.
ALIA’S administration came in at a time when Benue was grappling with insecurity, decaying infrastructure, and a demoralized civil service. The record he now presents is deliberately broad. Benue’s revival efforts are beginning to take shape across key sectors, with a clear shift from rhetoric to tangible outcomes.
ON industrialization and job creation, the revival of the Benue Investment and Property Company has produced visible results. The company now produces ‘Zeva’ Premium Beer and ‘Oyi’ Bitters, and has brought water, bakery, nails, polythene, and fruit juice factories back into operation. Though modest individually, these ventures signal a move toward local production and creation of value chains that benefit farmers across the state.
IN healthcare and infrastructure, the government has embarked on remodeling the Benue State University Teaching Hospital into a modern hub, rehabilitating over 100 primary healthcare centres, and constructing more than 500 kilometers of roads, including underpasses in Makurdi and Gboko. These projects address two of the state’s most pressing deficits, and improved access to healthcare and markets. They are also expected to boost productivity while reducing mortality rates.
More than 400 classroom blocks are under construction or remodeling, and 10,000 teachers have been recruited to address long-standing gaps in the area of education, while the establishment of the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology at Ihugh is particularly strategic. If properly resourced, it can train graduates equipped to solve local agricultural and technological challenges.
ON digital transformation, partnerships with Microsoft and Google are set to train 10,000 youths in ICT, while civil servants are receiving e-governance training. These initiatives position Benue to participate more actively in the digital economy and help reduce bureaucratic leakages in government operations.
THE next phase of his administration should focus on sustaining and deepening the gains of democracy, shifting toward institutionalizing delivery and linking investments to measurable outcomes.
BENUE is a state where ethnic and political fragmentation have historically stalled progress, we therefore appeal for unity among party stakeholders and cooperation from citizens to enable sustained development and progress.
SECURITY remains the overarching constraint. Without a stable environment, farmers can’t return to farms, factories can’t run at capacity, and investors won’t commit. Alia’s repeated emphasis on peace is right and needs to be matched with measurable improvements in rural security.
GOVERNOR Alia has used three years to reset expectations. The infrastructure is visible, the industrial base is being revived, and the human capital agenda is underway. If the next five years focus on execution, accountability, and security, Benue will move from recovery to competitiveness
