I’ll return Benue to full-scale farming — Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has assured stakeholders that farmers in the state are set to begin full-scale cultivation this year.

Fielding questions from reporters at the State House on Wednesday, Alia calmed the frayed nerves of Nigerians over food insecurity, assuring the people of his government’s commitment to leverage the state’s agricultural potential.

Speaking further after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima in Makurdi, Alia described the move as the right step in the right direction, adding that the state is set to live up to its status as the “food basket of the nation.”

“Benue doesn’t have any need to talk about food insecurity at all. Rather, we should be supporting the president to ensure that all the states that seem to be fighting food insecurities are strongly supported by Benue,” the governor said.

He noted that his government has stepped up efforts to encourage farmers to return to their fields, buoyed by federal support.

“During the campaigns, the vice president, as a candidate, promised to support us with tractors and farm inputs, and he has been doing that. This year, we’re even going back to the farms 100 percent,” he noted.

Alia attributed the renewed enthusiasm for farming in the state to the federal government’s commitment, led by President Bola Tinubu, to revitalising agriculture nationwide.

He added that President Bola Tinubu has supported the state significantly through improved security, stressing that Benue is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that food insecurity becomes a thing of the past.

He commended the federal government’s role in restoring peace to the state and disclosed recent measures taken by the state government to further enhance security.