Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has described as unfounded, stories making the rounds that he awarded the construction of an underpass in Makurdi at ₦44bn.
The Governor also says that it is untrue those insinuating that his office is set to consume 13.11% of the 2024 budget, describing purveyors of the rumour as “some people are not interested in the development of this state.”
According to the governor, such people are enemies of the state who fabricate stories and sponsor some ready mischievous youth to propagate on the cyberspace with a clear intention to generate hatred for the administration.
He said the contract of the underpass met all the required procurement details, before it was approved and awarded to Bauhaus Global Investment Nigeria Limited on 23rd December, 2023, at a realistically achievable bill of something in the neighbourhood of ₦6bn describing the allegation of 44BN as laughable.
The Governor spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula who addressed a press conference at Government House, Makurdi.
According to the CPS, the High level underpass was amongst three of such projects that were proposed for construction by the current administration, with the other two being flyover projects at Wurkukum roundabout and at Gyado Junction, Gboko.
He stated however that given the proactiveness of the Governor and the love of President Tinubu for the people of the state, the Wurukum flyover which the state government had proposed to construct for ₦9bn has now been redesigned and awarded for about 20bn by the federal government, with work billed to commence soon.
He said Barhaus Global Investment Nigeria Limited, a company that has done construction jobs in Nassarawa, Kano and other parts of Nigeria, was chosen as the contractor for the job ahead of three other contractors.
Also commenting on the issues raised by the Benue State National Assembly caucus, who alleged during a press conference that the dissolution of the Local government councils in the state is the reason for the increased herders attacks, the CPS said it appears the group know what many including the governor is unaware of.
He said already, the state government is investigating a letter allegedly sent to the herdsmen to return and occupy some parts of the state, adding that the anti-grazing law is still in force in the state as the governor had emphasized during the burial of the late Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa.
He queried while the National assembly caucus would descend so low to the point of quoting a fictional sum of 3bn as monthly security votes for the Governor, saying the government is not against anyone or group for speaking on issues that affect the state, but that such issues must be built on truth and free of lies and must not be aimed at instigating the people against the government.
On allegations that 13.11% of the total 225.7BN 2024 budget for the state has been earmarked for the office of the governor, the CPS said there is nothing of such in the 2024 budget.
He said some people may be mistaking the Government House Administration to be the same as the Governor’s office. He stated that in the 2024 budget, the Governor’s office takes only ₦5.2bn representing 2.3%.
He insisted that even the Government House Administration which encompasses such other offices and agencies like, the Deputy Governor’s office, Pension Commission, Benue Peace Commission, BENSACA, BSEMA, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, State Millennium Development Goals (SDGs), Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board etc, has no such percentage in the current budget.
On the issue of free WAEC, NECO and NABTEB registration that the Alia administration had promised, the CPS urged the parent of students in government owned schools not to panic, as the governor has directly engaged the external examination bodies to pay the fees directly to them, adding that data of the students has already been forwarded to WAEC, NECO and NABTEB.
He said the governor did this deliberately, as there were signs of sharp practices and exploitations in the name of handling charges and other strange charges.