COVER
Benue Leaders Looted Huge Minerals, Alia Tells the Diaspora
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on Monday said lack of vision and underhand dealings by past leaders hindered Benue State from benefiting the Federal Government 13 percent derivation from solid minerals found in the state.
The governor made this known while addressing Benue diaspora community on a zoom meeting organised by the Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) and the Idoma Association in the United States of America.
He said meeting was to enable the two groups get firsthand information on the present administration’s general policy direction, security initiatives as well as the government’s drive in sectors such as agriculture, Mining, education, health, Banking and Finance as well as physical and digital infrastructure.
Speaking on the mining/extractive industry, the governor said although the state is blessed with mineral deposits, the mining sector remains one area that has not been properly tapped, adding that there was no coordination in the past, thereby allowing huge illegality in the sector.
Alia said, “It is only when we came in on May 29th, 2023 that we made the Benue people realize they have solid minerals.
“Is it that they never existed before we came in? No, they were there. But those who knew; those who were robbing us came in there and carted away what they wanted.
“It is so surprising to hear that it is our very own who were robbing us of the solid minerals. They knew the solid minerals existed there and invited the bad guys who came in behind closed those to rob us.”
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula which was made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the state government had placed a moratorium on Mining activities in the state in order to fish out the illegal miners, adding that traditional rulers have been warned not to sign MOUs with the miners as was obtainable in the past.
He said anyone found engaging aging foreigners who come from nowhere to start mining in the villages will not be spared.
He regretted that Benue as a state with 34 out of the 46 mineral deposits found in the country is not enjoying the 13 percent derivation like oil producing states because of lack of coordination.
According to the governor, the need for coordination in the sector is what gave birth to the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) under his administration.
This he said will serve as a link between the state and the Federal Government in the area of policy and tackling of illegal mining, thereby protecting such solid minerals for the government and people of the state.
Speaking on the educational sector and the strategies the government has put in place to bridge the gap between the private and government institutions in the state, and on how he feel religious based organizations and private organizations can invest in the education system in the state, the governor said, “What was on ground upon my assumption of office was terrible.
“We met the Benue system in comatose but that of education was even worse and we are just trying to reinvent our educational system with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) already geared with programmes to reinvent the educational sector in the state.”
He said his administration has created an agency, Benue Education Quality Assurance (BEQA) through which many discoveries.
“The schools are so saturated with ghost teachers, and the system is saturated with ghost schools.
“Immediately we came into office, we were able to save N1.2billion from ghost teachers.
“We went further and it was discovered that it was not only ghost teachers, but ghost schools as well.
“And the least we found was that the ghost schools had 95 ghost teachers and the minimum Grade level of the teachers in those schools was Grade level 10.
“Just imagine how much they packed! And if we unveil to you those who have been involved in this corrupt system, you will be so shocked to hear names. Yet, this had been going on and on for ages.”
While calling for investment in the educational system in the state, the governor said his administration intends to go back to the basics by granting independence to missionary schools, reintroducing more vocational centres across the state to enable the students acquire skills, as well as intensifying training for the teachers.
On Security, Peace and Wealth Creation as well as his plans for the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes, Alia said the state has about 13 IDP camps and his campaign promises of returning them to their ancestral homes still stands, adding that his administration is making inroads to address the situation.
On whether the people have started returning back to their ancestral homes, the governor said that has not happened permanently but there is an improvement.
He said the security situation in the state is a combination of both herders and militia groups, especially in the Sankera axis of the state, accusing some elite of inviting the Fulanis back to the state with the notion that the Anti-Open Grazing law is no longer in force.
He called for more collaboration, partnership and investments to enable the government to revamp the Primary Health Care Centres and Clinics in the villages so that healthcare services can be easily accessed by the people of the state.
On Banking and Finance, the governor highlighted the need to drive the Banking Sector in the state, lamenting the absence of Benue indigenes in top banking positions in the country.
He said the state is suffering from the collapse of Lobi Bank, especially as it was aimed at helping local farmers and businesses to thrive, disclosing that the government is trying to see if there will be an alternative.
“Benue is near empty in this regard. There are no investments in the Banking Sector in the state at the moment.
“It is a challenge. Even to get loans, our people are not properly educated in this regard. And we need individuals who can come in and teach our people,” he stated.
While regretting that most big towns in the state don’t have banks, the governor said it is the plan of the present government to take the Novus Microfinance Bank to be in villages, where certain government grants can be obtained through the bank by the time it is properly set up.
On digital and physical infrastructural development in the state, Alia equally told the Benue Diaspora that immediately he came into office, he declared, “There was no maintenance on the few existing ones that were put in place.
“It is now that our government is doing everything to turn Makurdi from a glorified village to a Capital City.
“The government is doing very deep investments in lighting and road infrastructure to ensure that what is done lasts for a long time.”
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its Impact Report and presented MSME Data Assets at the seventh edition of Annual Lecture held in Abuja.
DBN, in a statement on Thursday, said while delivering a welcome address, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the central challenge was no longer reforms themselves but ensuring benefits reach businesses at end of the chain.
He asked how to make sure benefits reach traders in Onitsha, fabricator in Aba, farmer in Kebbi and young founder in Yaba, noting that MSMEs accounted for about half of Nigeria’s GDP and more than eight in every ten jobs, adding that when reform works for MSMEs it works for most Nigerians.
He explained that reform becomes prosperity only when entrepreneurs can act on it whether through long tenor loans to buy equipment, banks willing to take risk or skills and records needed to grow.
He said working through Participating Financial Institutions DBN provides longer term funding, partial credit guarantees through subsidiary Impact Credit Guarantee Limited and capacity building including Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
He disclosed that as at December 2025 DBN had disbursed a cumulative N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions creating about 1.6 million jobs nationwide.
Under the new five year strategy, the Bank aims to reach more than two million MSMEs with deliberate targets for women led businesses, youth led businesses and underserved states.
On DAWN, Okpanachi said finance alone had not enabled enough women-led businesses to scale.
He said initiative brings together financing, guarantees and credit support, technical assistance, outcome linked grants and market linkages delivered through banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, aggregators, cooperatives and direct channels.
Its priority sectors are agriculture and exports, healthcare, arts and creatives, technology and green business.
He said DAWN is about moving gender focused lending beyond intention and turning access into opportunity.
On the sidelines of the lecture DBN and African Development Bank held a signing ceremony of AfDB DBN 61 million United States dollars Gender Line of Credit development that reinforces Bank commitment to women led enterprises.
Okpanachi urged Participating Financial Institutions to extend lending into sectors and states where access to finance has been limited, policymakers and regulators to measure reform by what changes for business at end of chain and MSMEs to formalise, keep good records and use support now available.
The Vice President as Special Guest of Honour was represented by Dr Fred Iklaga Senior Technical Adviser in the Office of Special Adviser to the President on Economy.
Keynote speakers were Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, and Chairman of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Dr Segun Ogunsanya.
Fireside chat featured Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Abubakar Suleiman, manufacturing and trade entrepreneur Mrs Omoyemi Chukwurah and by video Kola Masha of Babban Gona.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation, represented by Augusta Warren Bekaredebo, said 2026 tax reforms would bring relief to many small businesses expressing optimism that a lot of businesses will be smiling by next year because they will be exempted from tax.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding labour demands.
The warning came after a meeting between the government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, ended without an agreement.
The congress has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.
The NLC has also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.
According to the congress, organised labour presented its demands in good faith but left the meeting without any concrete commitments from the government.
The demands include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress also called for the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) over peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
The NLC said the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to engage meaningfully on the issues presented by labour representatives.
“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
It added that the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately for further discussions.
The preparations, according to the statement, would include bringing relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to the negotiating table.
The congress said it remained open to dialogue but would not accept continued delays in addressing workers’ concerns.
“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.
The labour body urged workers and members of the public to remain calm while the negotiations continue, even as it directed its affiliates and allies to prepare for possible industrial action.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for both sides to address the outstanding issues and prevent a possible escalation of the dispute.
However, the NLC’s decision to begin mobilisation suggests that tensions could rise if the next round of talks fails to produce meaningful progress.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.
She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.
The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.
Motorists Storm Minna NNPC Mega Station, Threaten Mass Protest Over CNG Scarcity
Share From Dan Amasingha, Minna. Angry vehicle owners on Sunday staged a peaceful protest at the NNPC Mega Station along...
Lokoja CMD Seeks More Investments in Healthcare Delivery
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Professor Abdulrahman Shehu, has called for...
Enugu CP Orders investigation into Man’s Death During Police Operation
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered a thorough investigation...
Police Officer Shoots Female Colleague to Death, Kills Self in Kogi
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja Kogi State Police Command has confirmed a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two police...
2027: Benue People Are Not ‘Shenanigans’, Alia Owes You No Apology, Ex-Ambassador Tells Ortom
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi A former Nigerian Ambassador to Namibia, Terhemen Tarzoor, has criticized former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom...
JPMorgan’s Entry into Nigeria: Turning Global Finance into a National Development Opportunity
ShareBy Uche Joe Uwaleke The proposed establishment of JPMorgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited presents Nigeria with an important opportunity to...
WAHO Steps Up Regional Health Surveillance After Ebola Case Confirmed in Abuja
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has intensified regional health surveillance following the confirmation of an...
2027: Don’t Call Benue People Shenanigans, Alia not answerable to you- Ex- Amb, Tarzoor Tells Ortom, Wike.
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Ex -Nigeria’s Ambassador to Namibia, Terhemen Tarzoor, has warned the immediate past Governor of Benue State...
DBN Signs $61m Credit Deal With AfDB, Unveils Support Initiative Report
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria,...
NLC Threatens Nationwide Action as Talks With FG Collapse
ShareBy Tambaya Julius, Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks...