Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has debunked claims by the Benue caucus at the National Assembly (NASS) over allegations of awarding a bogus contract for an underpass in Makurdi.
Gov Alia stated that the allegations made by the NASS are unfounded, mischievous, and targeted at ridiculing him and his administration.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, while reacting to the allegations by the NASS members at a press conference on Thursday in Makurdi, said their claims did not reflect the true position of things.
Sir Kula maintained that at no point did the state government decide to spend N44 billion to construct an underpass at the High-level section of Makurdi, the state capital.
He dismissed the allegations as false, misleading, and concocted to mislead the general public, for reasons best known to the Benue NASS caucus.
Sir Kula stressed that the contract was awarded as far back as November 2023 through the Ministerial Tender Board.
He explained that on November 3, the publication for bidding was done, and on December 22, 2023, the submission of tenders commenced, while the bid for the contract was opened on December 23rd, 2023, with Bauhaus Global Investment Nigeria Ltd, known for delivering quality work, securing the contract.
“Some people are simply not interested in the development of this state. They are very saddened at the moment. They hate to see anything good happen here.
“It is very disheartening that the National Assembly caucus would say that the dissolution of the local government councils in the state is the reason for the increased Fulani attacks. Therefore, it appears that the group knows what many, including the governor, are unaware of.
“They are enemies of the state who fabricate stories and sponsor some mischievous youth to propagate them in cyberspace with the clear intention of generating hatred for the administration,” Kula stated.
He added that the state government is already investigating a letter allegedly sent to the herdsmen to return and occupy some parts of the state, adding that the anti-grazing law is still in force in the state, as the governor had emphasized during the burial of the late Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa.
Regarding the revenue of the state, he said the State government generates at least a total sum of N1.2 billion as revenue per month, which is being used judiciously.
According to him, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has nothing to hide and always asserts that it is the people’s money, and they have the right to know.
“The sum of N1.2 billion is generated every month by the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and this amount is outside of PAYEE.”
“Alia has continued to use the monies for salary payment and for projects to ensure that the people reap the dividends of democracy.
“You know that the immediate past administration took a lot of loans, which reduced the amount of money available to the government as various banks deduct their monies from the federal accrual into the state’s purse.
“So, what the government gets (leftovers after loan deductions) at the end of the month, which is little, is what it adds up to the monthly generated revenue to do projects you see all over the state,” he said.
“The sum of the contract is 6 billion naira, not even close to 10 billion naira, not to talk of 44 billion naira. An underpass is meant to construct another road. It was captured properly in the budget.
“The initial bill of 9 billion naira was projected for the Wurukum underpass until the governor approached the President and the Minister for Works.
The minister, David Umahi, approved and awarded it for 20 billion naira. The underpass is to decongest and beautify the State capital. Discussions are still ongoing with those whose structures or land are affected by the construction work. Valuation is ongoing.”
“Benue people are grateful to the President and Minister for Works Dave Umahi for the approval for the construction of a flyover and many other projects ahead,” Kula said.
