FIC Report (Benue State) – The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has officially launched the distribution of improved palm oil seedlings to media practitioners in the state, urging them to take part in the cultivation of about twenty thousand improved seedlings across the 23 local government areas as part of efforts to boost food security, create wealth, and generate revenue.
Governor Alia made this known during the Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, held on Monday, 18th August 2025, at the NUJ House, Makurdi.
Speaking at the event, the Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to laying a solid foundation for Benue’s development through infrastructural renewal, access to clean water, improved electricity, modernized schools, and quality healthcare. He emphasized that sustainable growth requires long-term investment in agriculture.
According to him, the seedlings are not mere gifts but represent the foundation of an economy that will feed industries, create jobs for the youth, and generate wealth for families. “Every palm tree planted today is a seed of prosperity for tomorrow,” he stated.
Governor Alia further announced several interventions for the NUJ, including the settlement of the Union’s outstanding ₦12 million dues to its national body, renovation of the NUJ House in Makurdi, provision of a utility bus to ease mobility challenges, and the consideration of weigh-in allowances for journalists in government-owned media organizations.
He urged journalists to uphold truth and objectivity in their reportage while assuring that his administration is determined to transform Benue from the “Food Basket of the Nation” into the “Industrial Basket of Nigeria.” He added that his government remains open to strong partnerships with the media in shaping the state’s development journey.
In his remarks, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, expressed profound gratitude to the Governor for empowering journalists with palm seedlings, describing the initiative as a bold step toward wealth creation, food security, and agricultural diversification.
Ugber also commended the administration for its infrastructural renewal, digital governance reforms, and interventions for displaced persons.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Agweye Agbenu, described the project as a sustainable path to economic independence, noting that the planned planting of six million hybrid palm trees would, in the near future, position Benue as a leading hub for palm oil production.
Signed:
Bridget Udoo Tarker
For: Head of Centre
FIC Makurdi
