If elected, we will work to improve commerce and industry in Benue State. Focusing on commerce and industry can be an effective way to stimulate economic development and create jobs.

Developing the commerce and industry sectors can be a key driver of economic growth and development and can also create job opportunities for the good people of Benue State. We want to promote local goods through several areas of commerce and industry that we feel can be improved in Benue State, including but not limited to: agriculture, art and crafts, tourism, and solid minerals.

We would like to align Benue State with global economic trends that look attractive for investors via our strategic development plan to improve these sectors for the betterment of our people.

Our focus will be on:

Promoting economic diversification: Encourage the development of a range of industries and businesses in Benue State rather than relying on federal allocation.

Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): SMEs are a key driver of economic growth and job creation. We will consider implementing policies and programs to support the growth and development of SMEs in Benue State.

Investing in infrastructure: Good infrastructure is essential for supporting the growth of commerce and industry. We will consider investing in new industries, roads, ports, and other transportation infrastructure to improve connectivity and make it easier for industries or businesses to operate in Benue State.

Encouraging foreign investment: attracting foreign investment can bring new technologies, knowledge, and capital to Benue State. We will consider implementing policies and programs to make Benue State an attractive destination for foreign investors.

Promoting trade: Encourage the development of trade links with other regions and countries. This can help to create new markets for Benue State’s products and services and stimulate economic growth.

Economic growth is driven by the production and exchange of goods and services, and a strong and vibrant economy is often characterized by a diverse range of businesses and industries. By promoting the growth and development of industries and local businesses and attracting investment from outside the state, we can help create new job opportunities and stimulate economic activities in Benue State.

Action Plan

• • Promote the establishment of companies for the processing of agricultural products in the state
  • Partner with the FG to commence the dredging of the River Benue to facilitate commercial activities
  • Facilitate the establishment of a river port in Makurdi to pave the way for ship operations in Benue by the indigenes
  • Domesticate the law establishing a debt management office
  • Reassess the state’s tax regime through the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) to make the state more investment friendly
  • Encourage the Benue Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (BECCIMA) to continue exposing the state’s enormous agricultural potential to prospective external investors
  • Partner with the Federal Government to encourage private investors to secure licenses for mining solid minerals
  • Encourage financial institutions to actively provide the needed capital, especially to qualified Benue indigenes who are interested in investing in the state
  • Provide industrial parks in each senatorial district with the necessary facilities
  • To encourage public-private partnership (PPP) in reviving some of our moribund industries and also establish new ones for massive industrialization of the state
  • Strengthen the operations of the Benue State Procurement Commission
  • Restructure and reform the Benue Investment Property Company (BIPC) and also appoint qualified professionals to its board
  • Encourage Benue State indigenes to receive appropriate technical training for industrial employment and management
  • Support the revival and promotion of creative industries and indigenous technology to expand the commercial profile of the state
  • Support commercial cultivation of ginger and cotton in selected locations of the state
  • Support commercial dry-season farming along major rivers in the state

Economic growth is driven by the production and exchange of goods and services, and a strong and vibrant economy is often characterized by a diverse range of businesses and industries. By promoting the growth and development of industries and local businesses and attracting investment from outside the state, we can help create new job opportunities and stimulate economic activities in Benue State.
Father Alia