Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the immediate clearing and construction of access roads to oil well sites in Apa, Otukpo Ogbadibo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas, and the establishment of a Desk Office in Otukpo to coordinate exploration activities in Benue South.
The Governor made the announcement on Sunday during a reception in honour of APC elder statesman, Chief Godwin Ukpoju, who celebrated his 80th birthday at his residence, Sabon Gari, Otukpo.
Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Governor Alia said the road project and the new Desk Office are critical steps toward harnessing the oil resources recently discovered in the senatorial district.
He named Prof. Nicholas Ella to head a Steering Committee that will drive the development of the wells, while a desk officer will be appointed to lead the Otukpo Desk Office.
According to the Governor, the initiative is expected to boost internally generated revenue, create jobs, and open up rural communities for further infrastructural development.
Governor Alia also paid tribute to Chief Ukpoju, describing him as a pillar of the APC in Benue South. He recalled the celebrant’s role in establishing the National Union of Road Transport Workers during his tenure as Chairman of Otukpo LGA, and prayed for God’s continued strength and wisdom upon him ahead of next year’s elections.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode, in his remarks, commended the Governor’s commitment to the development of Benue South and assured that the administration would not relent in delivering projects that will improve the livelihood of the people.
Dr. Ode also lauded Chief Ukpoju for decades of service in politics and business since the Second Republic, noting that his contributions have earned him respect across generations.
Thanking God for His mercies, the celebrant, Chief Ukpoju, in his testimony, recalled how God saved him from a fatal accident in 2022 and sustained him through two surgeries. He noted that many of his contemporaries had passed on, but God had kept him strong at 80.
