A section of stakeholders from Benue State have identified the need to create job opportunities and fix the infrastructural deficit as panacea to the spate of insecurity in the state.

The stakeholders, irrespective of their political leanings, bared their minds yesterday at the official unveiling of the Benue State 2027 Roadmap, a forward-looking initiative aimed at addressing insecurity, youth unemployment, industrial underdevelopment, and political leadership in the state, held yesterday in Abuja.

The event, organized by the Markolima Consultancy Academy (MACA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Good Governance Initiative (NGGI), was chaired by Chief (Dr.) Terlumun Akputu, the Executive Director of FHA Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

In his welcome speech, Dr. Timothy Aikyor, CPC Chairman, Benue State: 2027 Roadmap, described the initiative as both innovative and timely, adding that the Roadmap was created as a platform to entrench democratic values, strengthen dialogue, and enhance citizen engagement.

Aikyor noted that the challenges facing the state, from insecurity and underdevelopment to political mistrust and zoning disputes, demand a new era of open, intelligent, and people-driven conversations.

He disclosed that the Roadmap will run in three phases: Phase I, the unveiling, which began with the current ceremony; Phase II, addressing the contentious gubernatorial zoning question (November 2025–March 2026); and Phase III, which will host a full governorship debate once parties have nominated their candidates (April–August 2026).

Dr. Simon Ater, widely recognized as a tech guru and good governance advocate, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation, linking it to systemic neglect of young people and insider sabotage.

“We need to imbibe discipline; otherwise, in the worst-case scenario, everyone is a suspect. We need to know and to understand the nature of the issue of security in Benue. What is the major challenge between the states? Who are the insiders inviting criminals to come and destroy our state? No sane society will be distraught by security challenges without an insider,” he said.

He emphasized the urgent need to build industries and create sustainable jobs to engage youths and strengthen the economy.

“Another thing is we have to build industries so that the youths can be engaged. The challenge is if you cannot take care of the youths, what are you doing in creating jobs? Infrastructural challenge is also a major factor because farmers are not able to transport their farm products from their villages to the cities. This is definitely affecting our economy. Because the economy is stagnant, nothing seems to be working, and insecurity becomes the order of the day,” Dr. Ater explained.

The program also featured a fiery presentation by Prof. Zachary Gundu, who spoke on “Insecurity and Political Leadership in Benue State.” Known for his bluntness, Prof. Gundu used data and illustrations to argue that poor leadership and internal disunity remain central to the state’s security woes.

His remarks sparked robust discussions among panelists, including Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, Surveyor Godwin Tyoachimin, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, and Dr. Tersoo Loko.

A highlight of the unveiling was the endorsement clips screened from nine notable participants, including Dr. Simon Ater, Chief Michael Kaase Aondokaa (SAN), Hon. Terseer Ugbor (Member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency), Engr. Nick Wende, and others, all lending weight to the Roadmap’s mission.

While many leaders pledged their support, it was Dr. Ater’s bold call for youth-centered leadership, industrial expansion, and security reform that resonated most strongly with the audience, setting him apart as a voice of vision and urgency for Benue’s future.

As the event wrapped up, participants agreed that the Benue 2027 Roadmap had not only opened a space for critical dialogue but also laid down clear priorities for a united, secure, and economically vibrant Benue ahead of the 2027 elections.