…Says ranching matter still under consultation
Benue State Executive Council, EXCO has approved two hundred and ninety four million, five hundred and thirty thousand naira (N294,530,000) as the state government’s counterpart funding for the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC, campaign across the 23 local government areas of the state.
This was disclosed by the newly sworn-in Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev while briefing journalists after the Council meeting on Friday.
The Commissioner said the approval was aimed at protecting children, women and other vulnerable persons from malaria during the rainy season, noting that the disease affects many residents due to the terrain in various communities.
The Council also addressed misinformation circulating in the public regarding alleged ranching projects in some parts of the state.
The Commissioner clarified that in 2017, the previous administration granted the Federal Government permission to establish ranches in the state. He explained that the present administration, being a people-driven government, inherited the arrangement but has not taken any further steps without consulting the people.
“Government is a continuum. The Federal Government has made requests to move into these areas, but the state government has said clearly that it cannot take a decision on its own until the people are consulted,” he stated.
According to him, Governor Hyacinth Alia was at the time of the briefing meeting with stakeholders from the affected communities at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi.
“There is no ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to the Federal Government on the matter yet, and nothing has proceeded. No one has started anything in that direction. The state government will continue consultations until it gets the full heartbeat of the people and takes a decision that favors them,” he added.
The Commissioner confirmed that portfolios have been assigned to the new commissioners, with slight adjustments to match skills with responsibilities.
“His Excellency saw it fit to inaugurate us today to add value to what the state is already doing,” he said. “The state has been doing a lot, and he has selected people across different professions and backgrounds to move the state to the next level.”
He assured that the full list of portfolios would be made public within the next 24 to 48 hours. The new commissioners were sworn in by Governor Alia earlier on Friday as part of efforts to inject fresh ideas into governance.
