The Benue Government has strongly denied allegations of marginalisation of the Benue South Senatorial District of projects during the Gov. Hyacinth Alia-led administration.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Tersoo Kula, made the denial on Thursday when he visited the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Makurdi.
According to reports, Sen Abba Moro, the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, has continuously accused the Alia-led administration of marginalising the district in terms of project execution.
Kula, who dismissed the allegations, said they were aimed at scoring cheap political points.
He explained that in the district, the government was at the moment constructing the 56-kilometre Awajir-Oju road, the 51-kilometre Igumale-Agila road, and the Obagaji-Okokolo-Agagbe road, which were at various stages of completion.
He said that no districts in the state currently enjoyed the length of road construction like the Benue South Senatorial District and called for caution.
Kula clarified that the Otobi Water Works has been reactivated and is supplying water in Oturkpo and its region, a development that is yet to get to urban centres like Katsina-Ala and Gboko, among others.
The CPS said over 32 primary healthcare centres in the area were undergoing renovation, just like others in Benue North East and West, respectively.
He said schools, both at the basic and secondary levels, were receiving also an infrastructural boom to make teaching and learning attractive to the Benue people.
Kula therefore challenged Sen. Moro to show his scorecard to Benue South Senatorial District people and stop promoting clannish political sentiments.
He said the Alia administration has ended the perennial flooding in Makurdi through the construction of the Idyu drainage channel.
In the education sector, Kula said the state governor has performed excellently through the massive ongoing school projects across the state and the recruitment of over 9000 teachers to boost basic education.
“Some of the schools had no teachers, no structures. Today, teachers are being posted, and learning has resumed,” he said.
On economic growth, he pointed to the activities of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), adding that local manufacturing ventures such as nail production, fruit juice, bread and water are emerging where none previously existed.
Addressing security concerns, Alia acknowledged that Benue, like other states, has continued to grapple with attacks but insisted that the situation has improved compared to previous years.
He revealed that logistics support, including the provision of mobility to security agencies, has enhanced their operation in difficult terrains. (NAN)
