Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged the Federal Government to include the Benue State Government on the list of states to benefit from the 13 per cent derivation revenue funds as a solid mineral-producing state.
The Governor made the call during the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Makurdi on Tuesday.
Governor Ortom said Benue State has abundant mineral resources such as cement, zinc as well as gold, which he noted out were recently discovered in large quantities in Kwande local government area of the state.
He, therefore, stressed the need for states designated non-oil producing to also derive maximum benefits from its natural resources.
The Governor said the Benue State Government would equally secure a license from the Federal Government to regulate mining activities within its territory and directed the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals to facilitate the process of acquiring the license.
He stated that exploration of more mineral resources within the state has already commenced which he said would boost the internally generated revenue profile of the state.
According to the Governor, even though Benue State was without an industrial base and as a non-oil producing state, the State Government was doing its best to meet its obligations to the people, pointing out that Benue was paying the highest salary ranking after Lagos and Rivers States.
Governor Ortom further reaffirmed that the establishment of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, BSCVG was not targeted at intimidating anyone as alleged in some quarters, saying the mandate of the home-grown security outfit was to “complement the conventional security agencies in taming insecurity in the State.”
The Governor also mandated the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Paul Hemba (Rtd) to liaise with heads of security agencies in the State to enforce total compliance with the restriction of motorcycles in the state as earlier resolved by the state Security Council.
Reacting to renewed killings by armed terrorists in some parts of the state, the Governor encouraged the people to stand firm and resist the attackers in self-defence and called on the people to also practice group farming to have the collective strength to wade off the killers.
He appreciated members of the State Executive and Security Councils, the State Assembly, the media and the people of the state in general for keeping faith with his administration, pledging to continue to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.