Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has declared that the state once overwhelmed by insecurity and mismanagement is now on a path to healing under his leadership.
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Alia reflected on his transition from Catholic priesthood to politics, his administration’s efforts in combating insecurity, and his emphasis on fiscal discipline.
As he prepares to mark 35 years in the priesthood this July, the governor explained that his foray into politics was driven by a deep understanding of the people's challenges.
> “I’ve spent my life serving the people of Benue in the suburbs, understanding their struggles. It wasn’t difficult for me to transition because I was already working to fix problems as a priest,” Alia said.
He noted that politics, to him, was simply an extension of service offering more tools to bring change.
> “As a priest, you spend your time supporting people, solving environmental and family problems. Politics was just an extension of that, although with the added responsibility of navigating a complex political environment,” he added.
Alia attributed much of Benue’s insecurity to the ECOWAS transhumance protocol, which permits cross-border grazing. He explained that such open-grazing rights, once absent during his youth, brought severe instability to the region.
> “When we were growing up, there were no issues with herders. But after the ECOWAS protocol was adopted, things drastically changed,” he explained.
According to the governor, as of June 2024, around 500,000 residents from 17 out of 23 local governments had been displaced by violence.
> “Our people are primarily farmers, but we’ve seen the land grab that accompanies these attacks. This is no longer pastoralism – it is a calculated destabilization,” he asserted.
He said his administration is adopting a three-pronged approach to address the crisis: providing temporary shelter, facilitating integration, and enabling return to ancestral lands.
Alia also urged the Federal Government to review Nigeria’s participation in the ECOWAS protocol, which he said has contributed significantly to internal insecurity.
> “If the Federal Government revisits this protocol, it could make a huge difference. We need to fix our internal security first,” he stated.
Governor Alia also spoke about the state’s finances, revealing that he inherited ₦359 billion in debt. Despite this, he implemented a consistent salary payment policy, ensuring civil servants and pensioners are paid on the 25th of every month, even on weekends and public holidays.
> “Before I came in, civil servants and pensioners went without their pay. But we found a way to make sure workers get their pay on time,” he said.
Though his policies have faced criticism from some political quarters, Alia believes his reforms are necessary for long-term sustainability.
> “People used to take the fish without learning to fish. Now, they’re learning to be self-reliant, and it’s creating some enemies,” he added.
Alia affirmed that his administration has maintained good relationships with both the judiciary and his political party, stressing a commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
> “There have been no issues with the judiciary. We followed due process with the NJC, and any disputes were addressed professionally,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the governor expressed optimism that his strategic governance style would continue to bring lasting transformation to Benue.
> “It’s about proper planning, strategy, and execution. We’ve brought a new thinking to Benue, and the people are beginning to see the difference,” Alia concluded.
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