Benue State Government has launched the official web portal of the Ministry of Information and Orientation as part of its digitalization drive to promote transparency, open governance and effective information dissemination.
The portal, www.imo.benuestate.gov.ng, was unveiled on Thursday in Makurdi. Speaking at the event, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Eunice Ihu, said the initiative aligns with his administration’s digitalization agenda aimed at improving efficiency in the state civil service for better service delivery.
The governor noted that the launch complements ongoing e-governance training for civil servants in the state, which is intended to equip public officers with digital skills to enhance productivity and accountability.
He commended the Ministry of Information and Orientation for the initiative, describing it as a vital platform for strengthening communication between government and citizens.
According to him, the portal will provide accessible channels for disseminating official information, publishing government policies and programmes, and promoting greater transparency and public engagement.
“While we adopt this technology, we must ensure that information dissemination through digital platforms is accurate, authorized and professionally presented. Confidential government information must also be protected,” he said.
He urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to collaborate with the Ministry of Information by providing timely and verified information about their activities.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, said the portal was created in line with the governor’s directive to bring government closer to the people and bring the people closer to government.
Iorpev said the portal was designed to create a positive “information overflow” to end the era of information scarcity and counter fake news and rumours.
He explained that the portal will be a one-stop source for everything about government policies, from agricultural revolution to infrastructure, youth empowerment and women inclusion; everything about every project with pictures, status reports and timelines; and everything about every opportunity such as scholarships, grants, jobs and investment windows.
“This portal is not just a website. It is this administration’s open book to the people. It is the digital embodiment of your covenant of transparency and people-driven leadership,” the commissioner said.
He added that the portal contains links to all MDAs, including the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), to ensure that information is updated directly from source, and also provides a feedback channel for citizens.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ruth Ubwa, described information as the lifeblood of good governance and said the portal will serve as a credible source of official information for citizens at home and in the diaspora, investors and the media.
She said the platform will help tell the Benue story accurately, showcasing its agricultural potential, investment opportunities, tourism and rich culture, while promoting honesty, hard work and peace.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Joseph Kwaghgba, described the appointment of Chief Iorpev as putting a round peg in a round hole, noting that the portal would serve as a historical archive for the state as it marks 50 years of its creation.
He said the portal would address under-reporting of government achievements and provide a verifiable source to counter misinformation about the state.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director of the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Terwase Gbande-Hembaor, who was represented by the Group Head of Corporate Services, Michael Iduh, disclosed that the commissioner reached out to the company in his first week in office to develop the portal as a tool against fake news.
He commended the ministry’s management and staff for their collective contribution to the project and urged journalists in the state to adopt the portal as the most authoritative source of information on government activities.
In attendance were directors from the Ministry and heads of parastatals under it, including the General Manager of the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of The Voice Newspaper, Mr. Akpera Nase, among others.
