Erstwhile Benue State Governorship Aspirant on the platform of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Ityoachimin, has canvassed for urgent urban renewal of major cities in the state.
Ityoachimin, a retired Director from the Federal Ministry of Works, who is preparing to contest for governorship election again in 2027 in the state, said the total lack of action of the state government to engage in sustainable infrastructural development, which included urban renewal had made the state to be “embarrassingly’’ unattractive to the Organised Private Sector (OPS).
The APC Chieftain made the remarks during an interactive session with members of the Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) at the weekend in Abuja.
He said it was disheartening to see how the state government had glided over genuine priority of upgrading the infrastructural development of the state capital- Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo among others.
“The direct interpretation of these cities’ imagery conveys squalor, filthiness, poverty and decay.
“By February, 2026, the state will be marking its Golden Jubilee and what you see does not reflect what should be. Should the people wait for eternity to test good life? The answer is no.
“In fact, the entire state needs urban regeneration and firm administration of land allocation and titles. This will help to attract private participation in the physical development of the state.
“This is just one aspect of the many development drives required to position the state for investment inflows and growth. The other key ones include intervention in Agriculture, Education, Skill Acquisition and Political Inclusiveness,’’ Tyoachimin said.
According to him, the state has for long jilted effective and efficient turnaround of all profitable value-chains in the Agric sector.
He explained that a proper agri-business oriented mechanised farming practice must be introduced to fully maximise the state’s comparative advantage in the sector.
“This requires the state government buying off farm produce from the farmers and selling to industries through boards such that farmers will not lose. This will lead to the springing up of cottage processing industries and mechanisation across all communities in the state.
The Estate Surveyor and Valuer, also decried the state’s lack of clear-cut strategic plans to address most of the challenges confronting the people.
