Benue State In News.Updates From Gov Samuel Ortom's Official Assignmnts.

PROTECT FACILITIES, EXPOSE CRIMINALS, ORTOM CHARGES COMMUNITIES

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has charged communities to protect projects and facilities sited in their places even as he appealed that criminals should be exposed for arrest and punishment.

He spoke today after the inspection of the Katsina-Ala Water Works and Yam Processing Factory.
Governor Ortom lamented the persistent insecurity in the Sankera axis saying the criminals responsible for the incessant killings and kidnappings in the area must be exposed and dealt with according to law.
He said such people were a threat to the agenda of his administration to attract investors into the state to exploit its potentials for the benefit of the people pointing out that no one would wish to invest in an insecure environment.
The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment stated that the worse aspect was the killing of security operatives including soldiers and policemen adding that but for his appeal to the military authorities there would have been reprisals for the recent killing of a soldier in Zaki-Biam.
Governor Ortom declared amnesty for possessors of illegal arms who surrender them willingly and vowed to put a machinery in place to track and apprehend those who shun the offer.
He expressed satisfaction with both the water works and factory pledging that he would raise funds to pay the contractors and ensure that the people derive benefits from the two projects.
According to him industrialization, small, micro, and medium scale enterprises as well as commercial activities and attraction of investment into the state were the strategies of his administration to create massive jobs, wealth and opportunities.
Governor Ortom had earlier visited the Tor Tiv, Dr Alfred Torkula at his palace in Gboko.





ORTOM ASSURES UN OF COUNTERPART PAYMENT

Governor Samuel Ortom has assured that his administration would always pay its counterpart funding for execution of various United Nation’s programmes in Benue State.
He gave the assurance in Makurdi yesterday while receiving the UN country team that visited him, saying he would insist that due process and accountability is adhered to in all transactions in line with his government’s zero tolerance for corrupton.
The Governor acknowledged the UN support to the state over the years in the area of sanitation, hygiene and water projects as well as reproductive health among others.
He commended the UN team for donating three Hilux vans and six motorcycles procured by DFID and UNICEF to enhance their operation in Katsina-Ala, Buruku and Obi local government areas, saying the decicion of the UN Country team to host their retreat in Makurdi was also a welcome development.
Earlier, the UN resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure, said the UN had a long standing partnership for implementation of projects with the state for the attainment of national development aspirations towards the realization of the millennium development goals and other internationally agreed development framework.
The UN resident Coordinator who said the UN technical and financial support to Benue State have been increasing over the years, however expressed concern over the non payment of counterpart funding which he said has affected some support from partners in the State and called on Governor Ortom to take prompt actions in this regard.
The UN country team which is in the State for the 2015 retreat donated three Toyota Hilux pickup vehicles and six Honda motorcycles to strengthen water and sanitation project in the State.




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