GOV ALIA MUST ACCOUNT FOR BENUE’S ₦1.2 TRILLION BEFORE SEEKING FRESH LOANS

The Network for Transparent Governance (NTG), demands that the Governor of the state, Hyacinth Alia, immediately provides a full, detailed, and verifiable account of how his administration has spent the sum of ₦1,234,893,199,839.25 (₦1.235 trillion) received in just 35 months.

This staggering amount which accrued between May 2023 and March 2026 through Federation Account allocations, Internally Generated Revenue, foreign interventions, and loans, represents the highest revenue inflows in the history of Benue State.

It is therefore alarming, unacceptable, and fiscally irresponsible that despite receiving such enormous resources, the governor is now seeking to plunge the state further into debt through a proposed ₦250 billion loan.

Before any further borrowing is contemplated, the people of Benue State deserve clear answers:

– How exactly has ₦1.235 trillion been spent?

– What tangible projects justify this level of expenditure?

– Why has there been no transparent and comprehensive public accounting?

Available data indicates that between May 2023 and March 2026 (a period of 35 months),

Since fuel subsidy was removed by President Tinubu on May 29, 2023, allocations to the state moved from approximately N4 billion under the previous administration to nearly N20 billion a month. The Benue State under Governor Alia has been receiving the minimum of N15,662,662,852.55 every month as allocations from the federation’s account. This means that between May 2023 and March, 2026 (35 months), the Alia administration has received Five hundred and forty-eight billion, one hundred and ninety-three million, one hundred and ninety-nine thousand, eight hundred and thirty-nine naira, twenty-five kobo (N 548,193,199,839.25).

In terms of federal allocations to the 23 local governments of Benue State, since subsidy was removed, allocations have increased from the previous N2.5 billion to over N11 billion. That’s a total of Three hundred and eighty-five billion naira (₦385,000,000,000) in 35 months.

In terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), on January 29, 2025, the Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Sunday Odagba, declared in the media that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) now averages N2.2 billion per month. That amount translates to a total of Seventy-seven billion naira (₦77,000,000,000) in 35 months.

On June 13, 2024, the State Coordinator, Benue Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, Stephen Numbeve, disclosed that the Benue State Government had secured €25 million from the European Investment Bank to construct rural roads across the state. This amount, when converted to the naira is ₦39.7 billion.

In his 2025 budget speech, Governor Alia confirmed that his administration had received several other international donations amounting to N85 billion.

A breakdown of the inflow shows that the state got:

– ₦548,193,199,839.25 from Federation Account (FAAC) allocations

– ₦385,000,000,000 allocated to the 23 Local Governments

– ₦77,000,000,000 generated as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)

– ₦124,700,000,000 from foreign interventions and international donations

– ₦100,000,000,000 loan obtained in October 2025

This brings the total inflow to ₦1.235 trillion within less than three years.

These unprecedented resources were largely enabled by increased allocations following the fuel subsidy removal policy of the Tinubu administration.

The proposed ₦250 billion loan, if approved by the under the leadership of, will raise the total borrowing under this administration to ₦350 billion in less than three years.

This represents approximately 36% of the ₦695 billion 2026 Benue State budget, a level of borrowing that is both excessive and unsustainable.

Such a move is not only fiscally reckless but also amounts to mortgaging the future of Benue State and generations yet unborn.

Our Stand:

In view of the foregoing, the Network for Transparent Governance makes the following demands:

1. Immediate and Full Accountability

Governor Alia must urgently publish a comprehensive, transparent, and verifiable account of all revenues and expenditures since May 2023.

2.The Benue State Government must suspend all processes related to the approval of the proposed ₦250 billion loan pending full public disclosure and accountability.

3. NTG calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other relevant agencies to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the financial activities of the Benue State Government under Governor Alia within the period under review.

Governance ought to be anchored on transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources. The people of Benue State deserve to know how their collective wealth has been managed in the last three years.

The pattern of massive revenue inflows without corresponding transparency, combined with an aggressive borrowing agenda, raises serious concerns that must not be ignored.

Public office is a trust, and that trust must be upheld through openness and accountability.

The future of Benue State must not be mortgaged by opaque financial practices and unsustainable debt accumulation.

Signed:

Dennis Agema

President, Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)

Oliver Omenka

Secretary-General, NTG