…While FG Dualizing 257km Mkd-Enugu road with N166b
Benue State, Nigeria—Corruption of unprecedented proportions is taking place in Benue State under Governor Hyacinth Alia. The latest scandal is the inflation of road contracts by Governor Alia to shocking levels.
The Network for Transparent Governance (NTG) unequivocally condemns the rampant fraud plaguing Benue State under the leadership of Governor Alia.
In a press release issued yesterday by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, it was announced that the State Executive Council approved the rehabilitation of the 14.2-kilometre Wurukum to Airforce Base Road at an astonishing cost of N68.3 billion. This staggering amount for mere rehabilitation—rather than the construction of a new road—has sent shockwaves throughout the state, prompting widespread fears that Governor Alia’s administration is engaged in a blatant scheme to fleece the public treasury.
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To put this in perspective, the federal government is constructing the Makurdi-Enugu Road, which spans 257.1 kilometres, at a cost of N166.004 billion. If Governor Alia’s administration were tasked with such a project, the estimated cost would soar to an unbelievable N1.216 trillion, exposing the outrageous nature of his spending.
The announcement by Alia’s government also included the construction of the 25-kilometre Mbawuar to Bako-Negher and Spur to Mbaakon Road in Vandeikya, at an eye-watering cost of N73.9 billion. This translates to nearly N80 billion for a mere 25 kilometres of road, further highlighting the egregious financial mismanagement occurring in our state under a man who claimed to be on a “divine mandate”.
We call upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies to launch an urgent investigation into these shocking allegations of malfeasance. The people of Benue State demand transparency and accountability from the state government, not a government that exploits them for personal gain.
Since May 29th, 2023 when Alia came to power, he has not briefed the state on his stewardship regarding finances. Since the removal of fuel subsidies by our dear President Bola Tinubu, Allocations to the state have increased tremendously, but no one knows what Governor Alia is doing with the money.
Governor Alia has locked all bank accounts of ministries, departments and agencies of government since the day he was sworn into office. He has increased his approval limit from N50 million to N250 million. Alia awards contacts without due process and no one dares question his authority.
Alia swindles the state by signing contracts all by himself for companies that he has stakes in and inflates such contracts by triple digits. The governor signs the withdrawal of funds from banks also personally. The projects he has claimed to be executing are all not covered in the budget of the state and no due process is being followed.
We will not remain silent while the future of our state is being jeopardized by Governor Alia and his thieving lieutenants.
Signed:
Dennis Agema
President, Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)
Oliver Omenka
Secretary General, Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)
