General News
Gov. Alia Marks 3 Years in Office: “Benue is Rising Again” As Security, Roads, Jobs Record Gains
Governor highlights 50 completed roads, 150 Hilux for security, new university, $250m food city complex
By Felix Umande, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia says Benue State has made “visible and measurable progress” in security, infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture three years after he assumed office on 29th May 2023.
In a statewide address on Friday to mark his third anniversary, Governor Alia said his administration inherited decayed infrastructure, unpaid salaries and pensions, weakened institutions, insecurity, and low public confidence. He credited steady progress to “courage, sacrifice, determination, and the cooperation of the people.”
The governor said restoring peace was the foundation of development. His administration provided logistics and intelligence support to security agencies, including 150 Hilux vehicles and over 600 motorbikes to access difficult terrains.
It also established the Civil Protection Guards and a joint task force, “Anyam Nyor,” to complement Operation Zenda. Alia noted that these interventions, with support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have contributed to relative peace and the gradual return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
On infrastructure, Alia reported that over 50 intra-city roads have been completed while 50 others are under construction. More than 370 kilometres of rural roads have been built, with additional projects ongoing. To ease traffic, his government completed interchanges in Gboko and Makurdi, attracted a flyover at Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi, and approved work on an interchange in Otukpo.
To tackle flooding, the administration completed a 4-kilometre drainage canal from Achusa through Idye to Wurukum, and built over 30 modern drainage systems. Under “Project Light-Up Makurdi,” solar-powered streetlights have been installed on major roads and streets, improving security and extending business hours.
In education, over 400 school structures including storey buildings were rehabilitated or constructed, and 9,700 teachers were recruited. The state established the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, BSUAST, Ihugh, and expanded the Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University with a new Faculty of Engineering and Architecture in Adikpo.
In healthcare, 500 personnel were employed and infrastructure at the Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Teaching Hospital was upgraded with modern equipment, positioning it as an emerging medical tourism centre.
Agriculture remains central, Alia said. The state set up a tractor assembling workshop that has trained over 200 youths, and attracted a $250 million National Food City Complex in Ogyoma-Akpa, Otukpo, with a 12km access road approved. The project is projected to create over 15,000 direct jobs and 5,000 specialized jobs.
Industrial efforts include reviving dormant industries and establishing new ones such as the Food Basket Brewery producing Zeva Beer and a Fruit Juice Processing Company for citrus value addition.
The governor said prudent resource management has enabled prompt salary payments and sustained pension reforms, restoring dignity to retirees. The Otobi Water Works was rehabilitated, restoring pipe-borne water to Otobi, Otukpo and environs after over 40 years.
Alia said over 10,000 youths were trained in digital skills, with 20 sent abroad for advanced training. More than 40,000 civil servants are being trained on e-governance and ICT tools, while platforms like the Electronic Document Management System, BENGIS Portal, and Benue Youth Startup Portal were launched.
“While challenges remain, one thing is undeniable: Benue is rising again. Hope has returned. Confidence in government is being restored,” the governor declared.
He thanked traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, security agencies, development partners, and citizens for their support, pledging to deliver more dividends of democracy in the years ahead.
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
To cushion the harsh impact of rising living costs, the Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, .
This was one of the outcomes of the conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja on Tuesday, following renewed pressure from organised labour over the rising cost of living, workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.
The government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
The parties did not agree on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, but agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed at the end of the meeting by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The document made public after the meeting was tagged: ‘Resolutions Reached at a Conciliation Meeting Held at Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Between the Federal Government and the Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 27th October, 2026’, outlined agreements on minimum wage negotiations, transport support, outstanding allowances, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22, 2026, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address disagreements between the government and organised labour.
On the transport intervention, the document stated, “That transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.”
The agreement trails high transportation costs and the prices of other essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Organised labour has repeatedly demanded measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including reductions in petrol prices, improved wages and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.
The memorandum also noted the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.
Addressing the disagreement, it stated that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”
It added that the Federal Government, in response, “stated that it fully respects the right of the Congress to advocate for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers, and is genuinely trying to address every aspect of it through a structured intervention.”
On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
However, the effective date of implementation remained unresolved.
The document stated, “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. It should however be noted that there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.”
The disagreement leaves a key issue outstanding despite the commitment to begin negotiations without delay.
The national minimum wage became a major issue in 2024 when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.
The latest agreement refers to further discussions and the implementation date of the national minimum wage but does not provide details of the specific proposal under consideration or when the parties expect to conclude the negotiations.
The agreement indicates that while the government has approved some financial interventions, other workers’ demands remain subject to further negotiations, administrative verification or decisions by relevant government bodies.
“Trump… Please bring my son back to me. I am begging you for mercy.” And what Trump did when he heard those words… may bring tears to your eyes.
Her name was Malphine. She was 95 years old. A mother who had spent years waiting. Hoping. Praying. And one day… she finally got the chance to meet Trump. And stood before him. With all the strength she had left. And spoke the only words in her heart. Please. Bring my son home.
And Trump looked at this 95-year-old mother. Held her hands. And gave her a promise. I will bring your son home.
And Malphine held on to that promise. The way only a mother of 95 can hold on to something. When hope is all she has left.
Days went by. Weeks went by. And then one morning… the news finally arrived. Her son Marc was coming home. After years away. After years inside a foreign prison. After years of a mother waking up every single day, wondering whether she would ever get to hold her child again.
He stepped off that plane. And returned home. And when Marc’s feet finally touched American soil… Trump was there. In person. To welcome him. To embrace him. To look him in the eyes and say… welcome home. America has not forgotten you.
And in that single embrace…
Trump showed the world something that no speech and no rally could ever truly express: That America cares about its people. Wholeheartedly. Unconditionally. And never gives up fighting for them.
And today… I sat thinking about that story. And remembered every harsh word I had ever spoken about this man. Every judgment. Every doubt. Every moment I chose to look away. And I felt something I can hardly describe. Deep shame.
Because Malphine trusted Trump at 95 years old. With all the hope she had left. And he helped bring her son home.
Today… this is the side of Trump that so many people may never take the time to see.
Not the Trump in the headlines. Not the Trump on the rally stage. Just a man. Who listened to a 95-year-old mother pleading for her son. Worked to help answer her prayers. And personally showed up to welcome him home.
If this story touched your heart today… let God and every American reading this feel your .
And tell me honestly, in your own words — after reading this… can you still speak badly about President Trump? Because I truly find it difficult to do so. Not anymore. Not after hearing this story.
Sons of Liberty. Maga Movement
–Calls for NSCDC reforms, compensation for victims
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
Dehydration was cause of the death of the detained miners, the panel constituted to investigate the deaths of alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, has stated.
The chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, while presenting the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, , said the miners suffered acute respiratory failure.
He also corrected the earlier reports that 37 miners died in custódy, saying 33 miners were confirmed dead.
He said the miners collapsed after calling for water and were ignored by the personnel of the NSCDC.
He added that the detention room was overcrowded and poorly ventilated.
He said the miners were illegally arrested and detained, stressing that they were all detained beyond the legally allowed period.
Part of the panel’s report called for a total reform of the NSCDC as well as solicited compensation for the victims.
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