Traditional rulers, clergymen, elders and community leaders across Benue State’s North-East Senatorial District have endorsed Governor Hyacinth Alia’s development agenda, citing ongoing projects and government interventions across the zone.
The stakeholders gave the commendation during town hall meetings organised to assess the administration’s performance, highlight its achievements and give residents an opportunity to raise concerns about issues affecting their communities.
The meetings, held across Sankera, Kwande and Jechira on Tuesday, focused on government interventions in roads, education, healthcare, water supply and security, with residents particularly commending the construction of more than 176 kilometres of roads across the senatorial district.
Residents said the road projects were opening up previously inaccessible communities and improving connections between farms, markets, schools and healthcare facilities. They described some of the routes as long-awaited projects that would boost economic activities and make movement easier for residents.
The stakeholders also praised the administration’s investment in education, particularly the construction of storey buildings for government-owned primary schools. They said the new structures were replacing dilapidated classrooms and providing better learning environments for pupils.
The employment of teachers from communities within the zone also received commendation, with participants saying the initiative would create jobs while ensuring that newly constructed schools had qualified personnel.
Participants further welcomed improvements in primary healthcare delivery and progress on the long-awaited Katsina-Ala Water Works, saying improved access to potable water would address one of the major challenges facing communities in the area.
On security, elders and community leaders commended the administration’s collaboration with the Federal Government to address insecurity, stressing that sustained peace was necessary for residents to benefit fully from ongoing development projects.
The stakeholders, however, urged Governor Alia to sustain the momentum, complete ongoing projects and extend more development initiatives to other communities across the state.
Responding to the concerns raised at the meetings, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said the administration remained committed to listening to residents and addressing their needs through targeted interventions.
Iorpev said the feedback from the town hall meetings would help the government assess its programmes, identify areas requiring further attention and strengthen its efforts to deliver sustainable development across Benue State.