FIC REPORT (BENUE STATE) – Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has received the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sale and Lease of Government Assets, Companies and Markets in the state.
The report was formally presented on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, by the Chairman of the Commission, Justice S. Itodo (Rtd.).
Governor Alia, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, mni, received the documents on behalf of the Governor, the State Government and the people of Benue.
Receiving the report, Dr. Ode acknowledged the submission of the Inspection Report, Volume II; Record of Proceedings, Volume I; and the Commission’s Report, Volume III, covering the various stages of the Commission’s assignment between 2024 and 2026.
He commended Justice Itodo and members of the Commission for their service to the state, describing their assignment as a patriotic responsibility undertaken in the interest of Benue and its people.
The Deputy Governor stressed the importance of proper documentation and institutional records in governance, noting that government remains the custodian of institutional memory.
According to him, the actions and inactions of public officials are preserved in official records and may, in due course, become subjects of accountability.
Dr. Ode therefore urged public and civil servants to discharge their responsibilities diligently and creditably, stressing that there would always be a time for accountability.
He acknowledged the challenges encountered by the Commission in the course of its assignment and, on behalf of Governor Alia, expressed regret over any shortcomings or lapses experienced by the Commission.
The Deputy Governor assured the Commission that the State Government would study the report and take appropriate steps towards producing a White Paper for its implementation.
He added that the report would be transmitted to the Governor, the State Executive Council and other relevant authorities for further consideration and necessary action.
Dr. Ode noted that the Commission had made a significant contribution to the history and development of the state through its work, particularly its efforts to safeguard the interests of the people of Benue.
Earlier, Justice Itodo explained that the Commission was established against the backdrop of concerns over the management, documentation and utilisation of government assets accumulated under successive administrations.
He said the assets were located in various parts of the state, adding that inadequate records and poor management had affected their capacity to generate revenue and contribute meaningfully to the development of Benue.
According to him, the Commission’s principal mandate was to reconcile the state’s assets, assess their status and determine those performing effectively as well as those that were not, with a view to providing a basis for their proper management and utilisation by government.
Justice Itodo subsequently handed over the Commission’s reports to the Deputy Governor for onward transmission to Governor Alia and the State Government.
Bridget Tarker
For: Head of Centre
Federal Information Centre, Makurdi
