Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed his determination to return the state to its old glory and name, “Food Basket of the nation” through massive investment in a large scale farming in the state.
He said this after what he tagged a productive meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday evening, where both leaders discussed strategies to enhance agricultural productivity and address food insecurity.
Speaking with State House Correspondents, Alia emphasised the vital role of agriculture in Benue, which is traditionally known as Nigeria’s “food basket.” “This year, we’re returning to the farms 100 percent.
“Benue does not need to discuss food insecurity; instead, we should support the President in aiding other states facing these challenges,” he stated.
The governor highlighted that promises made during the campaign by Vice President Shettima, including the provision of tractors and essential farm inputs, have been fulfilled, significantly enhancing the state’s agricultural capabilities.
Alia also addressed recent improvements in security within the state.
The governor said that the state government has allocated 100 Toyota trucks to local security agencies as part of a broader initiative to strengthen security infrastructure. “Just a few weeks ago, we launched our support for all our security apparatus,” he noted.
This initiative, he said, aims to ensure that local communities are engaged in supporting primary security efforts, contributing to a relative peace that has allowed farmers to return to their fields.
Looking backwards on the agricultural output from last season, Alia said a remarkable increase in harvests, describing it as a “bumper harvest.”
He expressed optimism about continuing this trend: “Many people went back to their farms, and we have experienced a lot of harvests. We plan to do even better this season.” This positive shift comes after years of challenges related to farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued the region.
While acknowledging that complete eradication of insecurity is unlikely, Alia expressed confidence in the current state of affairs: “Insecurity never goes away entirely, but we are seeing fewer large-scale disturbances. Our folks back home are alert and ready to support our primary security personnel.”
He however thanked President Tinubu for his ongoing support in stabilising the region and for encouraging Benue to reclaim its agricultural heritage.
