After Years of Leadership Crises and Missed Opportunities, the New CIPPON President, Clement koko Takes the Battle to Paper Manufacturers in Search of Solutions to the Industry’s Challenges

By Pius Ade Babaleye

There comes a time in the history of every profession when its members must pause, reflect, and ask themselves a fundamental question: How much progress have we made, and how many opportunities have we lost because of leadership failures, internal disagreements, and misplaced priorities?

*For Nigeria’s printing industry, that question has become increasingly important.

*

For years, professional printers have battled the rising cost of paper and other printing materials, dwindling profit margins, difficult business conditions, and the struggle to sustain their businesses in an increasingly challenging economy. Yet, beyond these economic realities, the profession has also endured institutional disagreements, leadership crises, and divisions that have weakened its collective voice and distracted attention from the pressing needs of practitioners.

The painful question is whether the printing profession could have achieved much more if its leaders had devoted greater attention to the welfare of members, industrial development, and the pursuit of practical solutions rather than allowing personal interests and institutional rivalries to overshadow the collective mission.

*While the past cannot be rewritten, the future can still be rescued.*

Today, a new opportunity appears to be emerging following the bold initiative of the newly elected National President of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), Mr Clement Koko, who has demonstrated a willingness to move beyond rhetoric and confront one of the most pressing challenges facing printers: the high cost and accessibility of printing materials.

His recent engagement with paper manufacturers in Ogun State may well become a defining moment in the renewed quest to reposition Nigeria’s printing industry for growth, stability, and prosperity.

*THE YEARS WE LOST: WHEN LEADERSHIP CRISES OVERSHADOWED PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS*

No profession can achieve its full potential when the energy that should be devoted to development is continually consumed by internal struggles.

Nigeria’s printing industry has not been immune to this unfortunate reality. Over the years, disagreements surrounding leadership, institutional relationships, and the direction of the profession have contributed to an atmosphere in which collective advancement has too often struggled to receive the attention it deserves.

While professional disagreements are not unusual in any organised sector, the real concern arises when such disagreements become prolonged, distract from the welfare of practitioners, or prevent institutions from working together to address shared challenges.

The consequences are felt most severely by ordinary printers, particularly small and medium-sized business owners who must contend daily with the high cost of materials, overhead expenses, staff salaries, equipment maintenance, and customers who expect affordable services despite rising production costs.

For these practitioners, professional leadership must mean more than titles, positions, ceremonies, and public pronouncements.

It must translate into tangible benefits.

It must mean advocacy for better business conditions, stronger relationships with manufacturers, improved access to raw materials, professional development, and policies that support the survival and expansion of printing businesses.

The printing profession has lost valuable time to crises and disagreements. The priority now must be to recover that lost ground through purposeful leadership, genuine unity, and measurable achievements.

The challenge before the present leadership is therefore not merely to manage an institution but to rebuild confidence in the capacity of professional associations to deliver meaningful results.

CLEMENT KOKO: A PRESIDENT TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE MANUFACTURERS

In what deserves commendation as a practical and forward-looking initiative, the new National President of CIPPON, Mr Clement Koko, has taken a step towards confronting the high cost of printing materials through direct engagement with paper manufacturers.

Rather than allowing the concerns of printers to remain confined to meetings, complaints, and conversations within professional circles, the CIPPON president led a national delegation of printing stakeholders on a working visit to two paper-manufacturing companies in Ogun State.

The companies visited were Everest Paper Manufacturing Company in Ibefun and Nixin Paper Mills in Sagamu.

The mission was straightforward but significant: to open a channel of communication between professional printers and paper manufacturers, explore areas of mutual cooperation, and seek practical ways of improving access to essential printing materials.

At both facilities, the delegation was welcomed by the respective management teams and conducted around the production facilities to gain firsthand insight into their manufacturing operations.

The factory tours were followed by roundtable discussions with company executives, during which the participants explored opportunities for cooperation and ways of establishing a more productive relationship between manufacturers and professional printers.

This approach deserves recognition because it takes the conversation directly to the source of a critical industry challenge.

A leader who identifies a problem and mobilises stakeholders to seek solutions has already taken an important step towards delivering results.

Although the ultimate success of this initiative will depend on its practical outcomes, Mr Koko’s decision to pursue direct engagement represents a promising beginning.

It is a reminder that professional leadership must be measured not simply by what leaders say but also by the problems they are prepared to confront.

*WHY PRINTERS DESERVE THIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP*

The high cost of printing materials has become a serious concern for practitioners across Nigeria.

Paper remains one of the essential inputs in printing, publishing, packaging, advertising, education, branding, and numerous other commercial activities. When its price rises sharply, the impact spreads throughout the entire value chain.

Printers face the difficult task of adjusting their charges without losing customers. Publishers struggle to control production costs. Small printing businesses find it increasingly difficult to compete, while consumers ultimately bear some of the additional costs.

The situation calls for sustained engagement among manufacturers, distributors, professional associations, and other relevant stakeholders.

It is important, however, to recognise that paper prices can be influenced by several factors, including production costs, imported inputs, foreign exchange, transportation, energy, distribution expenses, and market conditions.

Consequently, no single factory visit can automatically resolve every pricing challenge confronting the industry.

Nevertheless, direct engagement creates an opportunity to understand these factors better, explore more efficient supply arrangements, and determine whether professional printers can benefit from more competitive purchasing options.

*That is precisely why the initiative deserves encouragement.*

If sustained through constructive negotiations and clear follow-up arrangements, the engagement could open the door to improved supply relationships, bulk-purchasing opportunities, greater price transparency, and more predictable access to paper.

These are the kinds of practical interventions that can make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of printing professionals.

*AN ENCOMIUM TO MR CLEMENT KOKO: LEADERSHIP MUST BE ABOUT SERVICE, NOT SELF-INTEREST*

Special commendation goes to Mr Clement Koko, the newly elected National President of CIPPON, for demonstrating an encouraging willingness to confront an issue that directly affects the economic survival of professional printers.

His initiative sends an important message to the printing community: the challenges of the profession cannot be overcome by sitting back and waiting for circumstances to improve.

They require engagement, consultation, courage, strategic thinking, and a determination to explore solutions, even when the problems are complicated.

The significance of his action lies not in the factory visit alone but in the leadership philosophy it represents.

It reflects an understanding that the office of a professional leader is a platform for service, responsibility, advocacy, and problem-solving.

At a time when many printers are anxious about the future of their businesses, initiatives that seek to address the cost of production deserve to be encouraged, strengthened, and sustained.

Mr Koko deserves commendation for taking this step early in his tenure and for bringing relevant stakeholders together around an issue of common concern.

His approach also presents an opportunity to rebuild confidence in professional leadership by demonstrating that the needs of practitioners can be placed at the centre of institutional priorities.

The printing industry does not need leaders who are satisfied with occupying positions; it needs leaders who are determined to make those positions count.

It needs leaders who can listen to the complaints of ordinary members, understand the realities of the marketplace, engage powerful stakeholders, and pursue outcomes that improve the working conditions of practitioners.

It needs leaders who appreciate that the strength of a professional institution is ultimately reflected in the progress of the people it represents.

*Mr Koko has taken a commendable first step in that direction.*

The expectation now is that this initiative will be followed by sustained negotiations, clear communication, and practical arrangements capable of producing measurable benefits.

If these engagements eventually translate into better purchasing opportunities and more competitive material costs, the entire printing community will have reason to celebrate.

For now, the industry has every reason to encourage this promising initiative while holding its leadership to the standards of accountability and performance that professional service demands.

*ASSPPON AND CIPPON: THE TIME FOR GENUINE COLLABORATION IS NOW*

Another encouraging aspect of this development is the participation of the Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASPPON) alongside CIPPON.

The challenges confronting printers do not recognise institutional boundaries. Whether a practitioner belongs to one association or another, the impact of high material costs, difficult market conditions, and economic uncertainty remains largely the same.

This reality makes cooperation between professional institutions not only desirable but necessary.

ASPPON and CIPPON have important roles to play in advancing the interests of professional printers. Where their efforts complement one another, the profession stands to benefit.

The participation of Malam Abubakar Indagi, National Secretary-General of ASSPPON, alongside Pius Ade Babaleye PAB, Coordinator of ASSPPON Ikeja Division, and other members of the national delegation demonstrates the importance of collective engagement.

*The industry needs more of this spirit of cooperation.*

The time has come to move beyond unnecessary divisions and concentrate on the issues that matter most to practitioners.

How can printers obtain paper at more competitive prices?*

*How can small businesses survive the rising cost of production?*

*How can local manufacturers and professional printers develop mutually beneficial relationships?*

*How can professional institutions create more opportunities for their members?*

These are the questions that deserve the attention, energy, and intellectual resources of the profession’s leadership.

When professional associations unite around the economic welfare of their members, the entire industry becomes stronger.

The present engagement should therefore be seen as an opportunity to deepen cooperation between ASSPPON and CIPPON and establish a more consistent framework for addressing challenges affecting the profession.

*FROM FACTORY VISITS TO TANGIBLE BENEFITS: THE REAL TEST AHEAD*

While commendation is appropriate, the printing industry must also recognise that a promising initiative is only the beginning of a longer process.

The real measure of success will be what happens after the delegation returns from the factories.

*Will the discussions lead to concrete supply arrangements?*

*Can manufacturers and professional associations develop commercially sustainable purchasing options for printers?*

*Will members receive regular updates on the progress of negotiations?*

*Can the initiative be extended to benefit practitioners beyond the major commercial centres?*

*These questions should guide the next phase of the engagement.*

*To turn the initiative into a lasting achievement, the following steps deserve serious consideration:*

1. *Establish a sustained manufacturers’ engagement programme.*

ASSPPON and CIPPON should maintain regular dialogue with paper manufacturers and explore opportunities for long-term cooperation.

2. *Explore direct and bulk-purchasing arrangements.*

Where commercially feasible, professional associations could investigate collective purchasing models that may help members reduce procurement costs.

3. *Promote transparency throughout the supply chain.*

Constructive discussions with manufacturers and distributors could help practitioners better understand price variations and identify opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency.

4. *Develop a structured partnership framework.*

Future agreements should define the responsibilities of participating parties, the proposed benefits, and realistic performance targets.

5. *Keep members informed.*

Regular updates will help printers understand the progress made, the challenges encountered, and the opportunities that emerge from the engagement.

6. *Measure success through practical outcomes.*

The impact of the initiative should be assessed through improvements in supply access, purchasing conditions, business opportunities, and other measurable benefits to practitioners.

These measures would help ensure that the visit becomes more than a memorable event. They could transform it into the foundation of a sustainable industry-development programme.

*A NEW DAWN MUST NOT BE ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY*

The history of the printing profession should teach its leaders an important lesson: opportunities for progress must not be allowed to disappear beneath the weight of internal disagreements, personal ambitions, or institutional rivalries.

The industry has already spent valuable time confronting challenges that required unity, strategic thinking, and collective action.

*The future must be different.*

The new leadership of CIPPON has an opportunity to demonstrate that professional institutions can regain the confidence of their members by concentrating on practical problems and delivering measurable results.

*Mr Clement Koko’s engagement with paper manufacturers provides an encouraging starting point.*

It is now important for the leadership of both CIPPON and ASSPPON to build on this development, sustain the conversations, and pursue arrangements that can genuinely improve the operating conditions of professional printers.

The industry also needs a renewed commitment to professionalism, accountability, innovation, skills development, and the promotion of local production.

Printing remains an important part of Nigeria’s economic and social infrastructure. From books and educational materials to newspapers, packaging, commercial documents, advertising, and corporate branding, the industry continues to support activities that touch almost every aspect of national life.

Allowing the profession to remain weakened by avoidable divisions and persistent operational challenges would represent a missed opportunity for practitioners and the wider economy.

*This is why the present moment matters.*

It offers an opportunity to recover lost ground, restore confidence, and redirect professional leadership towards the welfare of members and the sustainable development of the industry.

*MY MESSAGE TO THE NEW CIPPON PRESIDENT*

As the Coordinator of ASSPPON Ikeja Division, I commend Mr Clement Koko for taking this bold initiative and encourage him to remain focused on the issues that directly affect the welfare of professional printers.

*The expectations are high, but so is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.*

The printing community needs leadership that listens, consults, negotiates, and delivers. It needs institutions that work together despite their differences. Above all, it needs a professional environment in which the survival and growth of printing businesses receive the attention they deserve.

*Mr Koko has taken a step worthy of recognition.*

May he build on this foundation with consistency, transparency, and a determination to turn promising discussions into practical achievements.

May the collaboration between CIPPON and ASSPPON grow stronger, and may the printing industry finally begin to recover the valuable years lost to unnecessary crises and missed opportunities.

The ultimate victory will not be measured by the number of factory visits undertaken, meetings held, or statements issued. It will be measured by the positive difference professional leadership makes in the lives and businesses of ordinary printers.

The time has come to replace leadership crises with leadership achievements, self-interest with service, division with unity, and endless complaints with practical solutions.

*THE INDUSTRY MUST MOVE FORWARD*

The visit to Everest Paper Manufacturing Company in Ibefun and Nixin Paper Mills in Sagamu represents an encouraging development in the continuing search for solutions to the high cost of printing materials in Nigeria.

It reflects the value of engagement, the importance of collaboration, and the need for professional leaders to confront challenges directly.

*To Mr Clement Koko, the new National President of CIPPON, goes a well-deserved commendation for taking this initiative.*

To the national leadership of ASSPPON and every member of the delegation goes recognition for participating in an effort aimed at advancing the collective interests of the printing profession.

The years lost to institutional disagreements cannot be recovered in the literal sense, but the lessons they have taught must guide the decisions of today.

The future of the profession must be built on purposeful leadership, professional unity, sustainable partnerships, and results that practitioners can see and feel.

The printing industry has waited long enough for meaningful progress. The journey towards recovery must begin with bold ideas, continue with determined action, and culminate in tangible benefits for printers across Nigeria.

This is the opportunity before the new CIPPON leadership. This is the responsibility of ASSPPON and other industry stakeholders. And this is the moment for the printing profession to move forward together.

Kudos to Mr Clement Koko for taking the initiative!

Pius Ade Babaleye

ASSPPON Ikeja Division Coordinator

By Tony Obiechina

At the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority NSIA), the mandate to deploy patient capital is anchored in a clear objective: to invest in sectors capable of delivering both long-term commercial returns and measurable national impact.

Few sectors embody this dual imperative more clearly than healthcare.

NSIA’s entry into healthcare was therefore guided by a straightforward but ambitious proposition: that high-quality healthcare services—many of which were previously inaccessible in Nigeria or available primarily through overseas treatment—could be made more accessible and affordable within the country.

This ambition led to the establishment of NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited (“MedServe”), the Authority’s wholly owned healthcare subsidiary, with a strategic focus on advancing oncology, diagnostics and, subsequently, other specialised medical services across Nigeria.

Building on this foundation, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer at NSIA  has placed healthcare investment within a broader institutional framework—one that goes beyond the development of individual facilities to building sustainable healthcare capacity, strengthening local expertise, and creating platforms capable of delivering measurable outcomes over the long term.

Through MedServe, NSIA has translated this strategic vision into operational healthcare infrastructure with national significance.

The MedServe–LUTH Cancer Centre (MLCC) in Lagos, commissioned in May 2019, became the first oncology centre in Nigeria to offer 3D Conformal Radiotherapy and today houses the largest concentration of radiotherapy equipment in West Africa.

The centre’s strategic value became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when international travel restrictions significantly constrained access to overseas medical treatment. At a critical moment for patients requiring specialised care, MLCC provided continuity of advanced cancer treatment within Nigeria, demonstrating the importance of resilient domestic healthcare capacity.

This investment has been complemented by the MedServe Kano Diagnostic Centre (MKDC) and the MedServe Umuahia Diagnostic Centre (MUDC), which introduced advanced radiology and pathology services to regions where such capabilities had previously been limited or unavailable.

The results are both substantial and measurable. Since inception, MLCC has delivered more than 25,000 radiotherapy sessions and 10,000 chemotherapy treatments to approximately 15,000 unique patients. The centre has also recorded instances of reversed medical tourism, with Nigerians being referred from overseas providers on account of the quality and cost-effectiveness of services available locally.

Treatment costs remain significantly below comparable international services, in many cases at less than half the cost of treatment abroad. It is estimated that these interventions have prevented more than US$200 million in foreign exchange outflows that would otherwise have been associated with overseas treatment and related expenses.

Across Kano and Umuahia, more than 410,000 patients had received pathology and radio diagnostic services by December 2025, supporting earlier detection, contributing to improved clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

These figures represent more than service volumes. They demonstrate healthcare capacity built locally, specialised skills retained within the country, and tangible value delivered to Nigerians.

Building a Sustainable Oncology Ecosystem

Sustainable healthcare transformation requires more than physical infrastructure. It depends on an ecosystem in which infrastructure is supported by human capital development, clinical research, knowledge transfer and integration with leading international institutions.

Recognising that oncology remains an emerging specialty in Nigeria, NSIA, through MedServe, adopted a holistic approach centred on three priorities: developing a pipeline of skilled oncology professionals; strengthening clinical research and trial capacity tailored to African populations; and establishing partnerships with leading global medical institutions.

As part of this effort, MedServe instituted an annual Oncology Summit to bring together clinicians, researchers, regulators and academics, creating a platform for knowledge exchange, professional development and collaboration.

MedServe has also established partnerships with globally respected institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the University of Maryland Medical Center and Bio Ventures for Global Health. These collaborations are helping expand access to clinical trials and innovative approaches in oncology, radiology and pathology.

To date, MedServe has participated in two global cancer trials focused on prostate and breast cancer—an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s role in international clinical research and ensuring that evidence generated through global healthcare innovation is increasingly relevant to African populations.

This ecosystem-led approach reflects the broader investment philosophy championed under Aminu Umar-Sadiq’s leadership: that sustainable impact is achieved not simply by deploying capital into assets, but by creating the institutional, technical and human-capital foundations required for those assets to deliver value over generations.

Expanding National Access: The Next Phase

Building on the outcomes achieved to date, MedServe has embarked on a structured expansion of its healthcare footprint across 13 states.

The expansion is designed to balance established urban centres—including Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna—with other participating states such as Oyo, Sokoto, Delta and Yobe. The objective is to bring specialised diagnostic and treatment capabilities closer to more Nigerians while creating a more geographically diversified healthcare network.

The next phase comprises the development of 13 new diagnostic centres, three additional oncology centres and three cardiac catheterisation laboratories, introducing cardiology as a new service line within the MedServe platform.

Scale, however, must be accompanied by operational resilience. To this end, MedServe has established long-term partnerships with global equipment manufacturers Siemens and GE. These partnerships cover equipment supply, maintenance, training and bulk procurement efficiencies, supporting high service uptime, consistent quality and the long-term sustainability of the expanding network.

The financing structure supporting this expansion is equally significant. In line with NSIA’s mandate to mobilise capital and catalyse foreign investment, MedServe secured up to US$24.3 million in blended financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Development Association (IDA).

The financing represents an innovative approach to healthcare investment, helping to lower the cost of capital while supporting affordability and demonstrating growing multilateral confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

With the commissioning of new centres scheduled to commence from mid-2026, NSIA, through MedServe, remains focused on expanding equitable access to high-quality healthcare services across Nigeria.

The country’s healthcare narrative must continue to evolve. It should no longer be defined predominantly by outbound medical tourism, but increasingly by domestic resilience, expanding capacity and measurable national capability.

The ambition is not simply to build more healthcare facilities. It is to demonstrate that world-class, dignified and accessible healthcare can be developed, operated and sustained in Nigeria.

The journey remains ongoing, but the direction is clear. Through disciplined capital deployment, strategic partnerships, long-term institutional commitment and strong execution, NSIA will continue to support the development of healthcare infrastructure capable of serving both the current and future generations of Nigerians.

For NSIA, the measure of success ultimately extends beyond the infrastructure delivered. It lies in the capacity created, the patients served, the expertise retained, the investment attracted and the extent to which Nigeria’s healthcare system becomes stronger, more resilient and increasingly capable of meeting the needs of its people at home.

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

For four days, the road into Benue became a moving test of perception, with a presidential media team traversing routes once feared for attacks, without incident.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team, led by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, embarked on the journey on Aug.

5.

The mission was to inspect Federal Government and state infrastructure projects across Nasarawa and Benue states, but the journey also offered an opportunity to test prevailing narratives about insecurity.

The journey also unfolded against sustained Federal Government efforts under President Bola Tinubu to strengthen security nationwide through expanded deployments, intelligence, recruitment and inter-agency coordination.

The team travelled from Abuja to Makurdi, then ventured into interior communities and remote locations where reports of attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements had previously generated concerns.

No fewer than 40 senior editors,, social media handlers,  cameramen, photographers and other support staff members from the Presidential Villa joined the journey, making the convoy a sizeable travelling media contingent.

Among the officials were Mr Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties; Mr Tope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Director in the Villa Media Unit, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye.

Others included Mr Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant on Print Media; Mr Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media; and Ms Linda Akhigbe, Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication.

The first leg of the journey provided an immediate indication of changing conditions along the Abuja-Makurdi corridor, where improved road infrastructure has transformed travel on sections once associated with delays and hazards.

The reconstructed highway now offers wider lanes, improved shoulders, safer overtaking opportunities and better traffic flow, reducing motorists’ exposure to isolated bottlenecks and prolonged stops.

The road, a major gateway linking the Federal Capital Territory with Benue and the South-East, carries passengers, agricultural produce, fuel, livestock and other goods across the region.

The journey continued beyond Makurdi to Taraku Mill in Gwer East Local Government Area, Otobi Water Works and Treatment Plant, Benue Brewery and other infrastructure sites.

These locations, some situated away from major urban centres, offered another opportunity to assess the security situation beyond the main highways.

The team also inspected the ongoing 258-kilometre Makurdi-Otukpo-Enugu highway and travelled through the Aliade-Oju axis, areas where insecurity had previously affected movement and economic activities.

At Buruku, the team visited the ongoing bridge project across the Katsina-Ala River, a location historically associated with dangerous river crossings and significant loss of lives.

Mr Raymond Aondoakura, Chairman of Buruku Local Government, said almost 200 people had reportedly died in boat mishaps on the river within three years.

The ongoing bridge, therefore, represents more than infrastructure.

It is expected to eliminate a dangerous crossing, improve movement and connect communities previously constrained by geography and inadequate transportation links.

For the presidential media team, however, the significance of the journey extended beyond the projects inspected.

It provided an opportunity to experience directly a security environment often portrayed as uniformly dangerous across Benue and other parts of the North Central.

For four days, the team travelled through several locations without an attack or security incident, an experience that appeared to contrast with perceptions of pervasive insecurity.

The experience does not mean security challenges have disappeared from Benue, but it suggests that the situation may be more nuanced than broad descriptions of the state as entirely unsafe.

Across the North-West, the Tinubu’s administration has sustained Operation Fansan Yamma and intensified joint operations against bandit camps and kidnapping networks in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and neighbouring states.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia has also pointed to improving security as evidence of changing conditions, particularly the gradual return of displaced residents to their ancestral communities.

During a media chat with the team, Alia disclosed plans to close some Internally Displaced Persons’ camps because occupants had voluntarily returned to their homes in order to farm.

The governor said 15 IDP camps had been established following attacks and displacement, but improved security was enabling many residents to return and rebuild their livelihoods.

He said security agencies, traditional institutions and residents were monitoring developments across the state, while the government continued working with international organisations to achieve durable returns.

The changing security picture is also reflected in renewed economic activity, as government revives abandoned industries and improves roads connecting farms, markets and production centres.

At Taraku, the government is reviving a N70 billion mill that had remained moribund for about 40 years, with the facility expected to process soybean, maize and animal feed.

The mill’s General Manager, Mr Terngwu Kyuve, said the facility could create no fewer than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.

Such investments require security because factories cannot thrive where workers, investors, farmers and transporters fear travelling to production locations.

Similarly, improved roads are helping farmers move produce faster, reducing journey times and limiting the prolonged exposure to isolated stretches that can heighten vulnerability.

The evidence from the road journey, therefore, points to a gradual change rather than a complete victory over insecurity.

Benue still faces security challenges, but improved roads, increased movement, government intervention and returning residents suggest that the state’s security narrative is evolving.

For the presidential media team, the four-day journey became an unconventional field test and evidence that the state is moving beyond its troubled past.

The experience also underscored the connection between security and development.

Roads, bridges, industries and economic opportunities can strengthen communities while reducing isolation that often creates vulnerabilities.

As the convoy returned after traversing highways, bridges, industrial sites and interior communities without incident, one conclusion stood out: Benue’s security story may no longer be as bleak as commonly portrayed.(NAN)