Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia Seeks Strategic Partnership with North-Central Development Commission to Strengthen Security and Regional Development!
Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (journalist) | Sele Media Africa
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has called for deeper collaboration with the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) as part of renewed efforts to address persistent security challenges and accelerate development across Nigeria’s North-Central region.
Speaking during a high-level engagement with officials of the commission, Governor Alia emphasized that coordinated institutional action is essential to confront the region’s complex security threats, including armed attacks on rural communities, displacement of residents, and disruption of agricultural activities.
The governor stressed that the partnership between the Benue State Government and the NCDC could help strengthen local security structures while simultaneously delivering long-term development projects aimed at stabilizing vulnerable communities.
According to Alia, Benue widely known as Nigeria’s “food basket” due to its vast agricultural output has suffered repeated security disruptions that have undermined farming livelihoods and displaced thousands of residents in recent years.
He noted that collaboration with the regional development body could provide both infrastructure support and security-focused interventions, particularly in rural areas where communities remain vulnerable to violent attacks.
“The challenges confronting our communities require coordinated responses from both state and federal institutions,” Alia said, highlighting the importance of aligning development initiatives with security strategies to restore stability and economic productivity.
The North-Central Development Commission was established to address socio-economic disparities and infrastructure deficits across the North-Central geopolitical zone, which includes Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kogi states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Development analysts say the commission’s mandate which includes infrastructure rehabilitation, economic empowerment programmes, and post-conflict recovery could play a significant role in supporting states grappling with insecurity and humanitarian challenges.
Security concerns in the North-Central region have remained a major national issue, with conflicts involving armed groups, communal disputes, and farmer–herder tensions affecting several communities. Experts argue that sustainable solutions will require a combination of security operations, economic investment, and strengthened governance structures.
Governor Alia reiterated that Benue remains committed to partnerships that promote peace, protect agricultural production, and restore livelihoods across affected communities.
“We must combine development with security interventions if we want to achieve lasting stability in our region,” he said.
Policy observers note that stronger coordination between state governments and federal development institutions may help address the structural drivers of insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt while boosting economic resilience.
Sources
Punch Newspapers
Premium Times
The Guardian Nigeria
Channels Television
Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.
Share this:
Discover more from Sele Media Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
