Alia Has Justified Every Kobo of Benue Allocations With Visible Projects — Commissioner Iorpev
Iorfa Akpen
Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev, has said Governor Hyacinth Alia has judiciously justified every kobo accruing to the state from federal allocations through visible development projects.
Iorpev stated this on Monday, October 19, 2026, while responding to comments credited to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on FAAC allocations and demands for accountability by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
According to the Commissioner, it was ironic that the previous PDP-led administration, through its former Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Terver Akase, was demanding accountability after leaving the state in debt and underdevelopment despite receiving substantial allocations, Paris Refunds and Abacha loots.
He said real accountability is not measured by staged town hall meetings and presentation of inflated budgets, but by tangible results such as schools rebuilt, hospitals equipped, roads constructed, debts cleared and moribund industries revived.
Iorpev said Governor Alia has never denied receiving federal allocations, but has instead justified them through transformative governance, noting that comparing current nominal allocations of about N30 billion to figures received years ago without considering exchange rate and inflation dynamics was misleading.
He explained that due to foreign exchange reforms and inflation, the purchasing power of current allocations is comparable, if not lower, than what the previous administration received when the naira had stronger value.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Alia administration inherited a domestic debt profile exceeding N186 billion in unpaid loans and contractor claims, with cumulative liabilities of over N300 billion, but has within 18 months repaid over N64.63 billion without taking fresh commercial loans.
On welfare, Iorpev said the administration has restored dignity to the civil service by ensuring prompt payment of salaries and pensions between the 22nd and 25th of every month, clearing inherited arrears, and implementing a N75,000 minimum wage above the federal benchmark.
He also cited the revival of moribund state assets, particularly the Taraku Mills, which he said was previously used as a conduit pipe despite billions budgeted for its renovation, but is now being reactivated by the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) as a functional agro-processing hub.
Iorpev further listed the administration’s achievements to include renovation of over 320 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 23 Local Government Areas, reconstruction of schools, recruitment of over 9,000 primary school teachers, distribution of subsidized fertilizer and modern farm equipment, construction of over 500km of rural and urban roads, and the Light-Up Benue solar initiative.
He urged the PDP to acknowledge that development under Governor Alia spans all 23 Local Government Areas and not just a few streets in Makurdi, adding that accountability is evident in the improved lives of civil servants, farmers, pupils and rural dwellers across the state.
