Gov. Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday hosted the board and management of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) in Makurdi.
Addressing the delegation at the Government House in Makurdi, Alia said he was determined to bring insecurity to the barest minimum and resettle people living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The governor told the NCDC board and management that the state was facing many challenges but his administration was determined to tackle them.
He stated that no amount of money estimated for rural development in the state would be enough because of many years of neglect.
Alia said his administration was willing to collaborate with any organisation that would help the state address its rural challenges, especially in the areas of insecurity and food production.
The governor added that they have resolved not to rest until peace returns to all Benue communities and those staying in IDP camps return to their ancestral homes to continue with normal life.
“We have done a lot to ensure we have peace in the state. We have drastically reduced the number of local governments that were gravely infested by insecurity.
“Already, there is relative peace in other larger parts of the state. But security is like a monster. Cut the tail and another part of the body will spring up. Cut the hand and you see another part of the body developing to cause havoc.
“Most importantly, we are resolute that our people must go back to their ancestral homes. The people of Benue State deserve peace to continue to feed the nation.
The agricultural value chain must be on the front burner to create overreach on the demands,” he said.
The governor further called on the board and management of the commission to try their best to be apolitical, adding that once politics is introduced into a very sensitive commission like theirs, the main aim is defeated.
Earlier, Mr Comas Akighir, Board Chairman, North Central Development Commission (NCDC), said Benue was richly blessed with mineral deposits and fertile land for agriculture.
Akighir said the essence of the visit was to see how they could partner with the state for enhanced development.
Also, Mr Cyril Tsenyil, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, said their mandate was to conceive, plan and implement projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the states in the region.
Tsenyil said the visit was to obtain first-hand information about the needs and expectations of the people of the region from the commission.
He explained that the commission would be providing healthcare, education, transportation, road networks, and industrialisation.
Other areas, according to him, include agriculture, employment, housing and urban development, electricity, telecommunications, and water supply, as well as the promotion of inclusive development, among others.
Tor Jechira Chief Edward Ujege, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, called on the commission to focus more on restoring peace in the affected communities and facilitate the return of IDPs to their ancestral homes.
Ujege also called for the establishment of skills acquisition centres to train the youth to acquire jobs for themselves. (NAN)