Benue State Government said it has spent about N1billion to buy vehicles for different classes of traditional rulers in the state.
Special Adviser to Benue State Governor, on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), Barr. Ken Achabo, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking to journalists in Makurdi
Achabo said state government through his office purchased about 90 vehicles for 46 third class chiefs and 23 second class chiefs, among others.
The LG Bureau boss stated that his administration has installed nine traditional rulers since he came into office some nine months ago adding that “Benue still have many vacation stools in the three zones, ABC and government have about 2000 traditional rulers on the it’s payroll and we have to cater for their welfare. Its really a daunting task,” he said.
Achabo also said state government has also spent the sum of N25 million on 50 youths drawn from the 23 Local Government Area of the state for automobile training.
Achabo said, “we paid for two persons per each of the 23 local government in the state for the training at Innoson Motors in Nnewi, Anambara State.
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“They are altogether 50 Benue youths; two from each of the local governments and four extra. They will come back at the end of the training to set up automobile workshops in the state and train others.”
He explained that the state government would open several automobile workshops for the trainees on completion of their training to enable them train other youths in the state to become self reliant.
He also decried increased herdsmen attacks on Bebue Communities saying insecurity in the state has caused low revenue generation at the local government level.
“We all know what is happening in the state currently. Recall that in Ukum local government area, some Chinese Engineers who were there to work were kidnapped while some were killed. I mean who would want to go there again.
“In Gwer West where the Fulani’s are having a field day, 80 percent of the place is effectively occupied by these Fulani’s. Now how do you get IGR there and this situation is replicated in other local government area of the state.
“In Makurdi, they came as close as Agan, in Ado LG, Ado has a problem of communication classes, IPOB and the Fulanis killed about 60 person not too long ago.
“Agatu shares a boundary with Gwer West. Not too long ago, the Fulani’s killed about 27 people as at the time they finished counting. These has greatly hampered our IGR”.
He however enthused that there are signs of improvement as the Bureau has hired a consultant to collect tenament rates all for local governments.
