Makurdi, Nigeria – Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has come under heavy criticism from the Network for Transparent Governance (NTG), which has labeled him the worst governor in Nigeria today. The group, led by its president, Dennis Agema, issued a scathing statement condemning Alia’s administration for what they describe as misgovernance, lack of accountability, and intimidation of critics.
According to NTG, Governor Alia recently procured 400 android phones and distributed them among jobless youths in the state, providing them with stipends for data to attack individuals who criticize his government. The group also alleged that the governor has recruited and armed thugs to intimidate his political opponents, creating an atmosphere of fear and oppression in the state.
The statement further accuses the governor of making threats against those who question his administration, including his alleged vow to cut off the fingers of individuals who dare to speak out about his poor performance. Despite receiving approximately N30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, the group asserts that Alia has failed to provide any form of accountability for public funds.
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NTG criticized Alia for running the state like a church parish, where financial audits and transparency are non-existent. They dismissed claims of infrastructural development, noting that the few roads constructed are less than half a kilometer in length, while major projects such as the underpasses at High Level in Makurdi and Gyado Junction in Gboko remain incomplete nearly two years after initiation.
Additionally, the group accused the governor of misleading the public into believing that his administration was responsible for installing streetlights in Makurdi and procuring buses for Benue Links Ltd., when, in reality, these were federal government initiatives under the fuel subsidy removal palliative program.
NTG also took a swipe at Alia’s past as a suspended clergyman, alleging that his so-called healing masses were fraudulent schemes aimed at deceiving the public. They lambasted the governor for failing to fulfill his campaign promises, particularly his pledge to clear salary and gratuity arrears and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) within his first 100 days in office.
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With Benue State reportedly generating a minimum of N2 billion monthly through its Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) and having received N85 billion in grants through the Bureau of International Cooperation and Development, NTG questioned the governor’s use of such substantial funds.
The group alleged that Alia’s only significant accomplishments since assuming office are the acquisition of a private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 850 worth N11.2 billion, and multiple luxurious properties worldwide.
NTG has challenged Governor Alia to present a comprehensive account of his two years in office, detailing major projects he has completed and providing a transparent record of state expenditures.
