President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State for revitalising dormant industries and establishing new ones to strengthen the state’s economy.

The president applauded the governor’s approach, saying that the industries now being established will generate jobs and help address insecurity in the state.

Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks today during a press briefing at the State House Press

Gallery, following a presentation by Alia on ‘The Impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Economic Reforms on Benue State.’

After listening to the governor, Onanuga noted in his closing remarks, “I remember that in 1979 our governors were not only paying salaries; they were also building factories, creating jobs and opportunities. I have been to Benue, and that is the path Governor Alia has chosen.

“He is reviving moribund industries and creating new ones. Some states are not following that route. While many are doing well on infrastructure, Benue is exceptional in economic revival.”

He added that the president is very pleased with Alia’s efforts to create employment for the state’s youth and expressed hope that if other governors adopt a similar approach, rural-to-urban migration could be reduced.

Alia defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, declaring that the policies have transformed Benue into what he described as Nigeria’s emerging medical tourism hub, strengthened the state’s finances, improved security, and revived infrastructure and agriculture.

Speaking during an interactive session with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Alia said the increased fiscal space created by the federal government’s reforms had enabled his administration to invest heavily in roads, healthcare, education, agriculture and security while meeting inherited financial obligations.

He told Benue residents to be “fully assured that every additional resource accruing to the state will continue to be utilised responsibly and transparently.”

According to him, prudent management of public resources has restored confidence in government, with salaries and pensions now being paid regularly after years of arrears inherited by his administration.

Meanwhile, the governor said his administration had embarked on an aggressive infrastructure renewal programme, rehabilitating over 550 kilometres of roads and constructing over 420 kilometres of new ones across the state, just as schools and other public facilities were also being rebuilt in the 23 local councils.

On healthcare, Alia said the rehabilitation and upgrade of primary and secondary health facilities have significantly improved service delivery, attracting patients from neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In view of this: “We have become a medical tourism power. If our state were not safe, people would not be coming. The most vulnerable people are the sick, and if they can travel to Benue for treatment, it tells you that security has improved,” he explained.

According to Alia, the development is due to a deliberate strengthening of the state’s security architecture through the Benue Civil Protection Guards, the Joint Task Force code-named Anyam Nyor, community vigilantes and technology-driven intelligence gathering.

“I can sit where I am and monitor what is happening in different frontline areas of the state. We have put several mechanisms in place, but I will not disclose all our strategies because they are part of our security architecture,” he added.

He noted that the improved security situation has enabled thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return gradually to their communities and resume farming.

In the meantime, he disclosed that, rather than depend indefinitely on humanitarian assistance, the state established cooperative farms for displaced women, supplied tractors, seedlings, and other farm inputs, and allowed beneficiaries to own the harvest.

He explained that security personnel initially escorted the farmers to their fields until confidence returned, after which they resumed farming independently, just as security agencies were also allocated farmlands in vulnerable communities to strengthen confidence and maintain a permanent security presence.

In agriculture, the governor said Benue had consistently subsidised fertiliser over the past three years, with the government paying half the cost while farmers paid the balance. According to him, the federal government recently supplied over 600 truckloads of fertiliser to the state, in addition to the over 6,000 metric tonnes secured through strategic partnerships.

Alia also disclosed that the state has cleared over N1 billion in salary arrears and resolved longstanding litigations that stalled the revival of Taraku Mills, paving the way for new investors to take over the facility.