The Benue State government says it will make a case to be considered for thirteen percent derivation given to states with mineral deposits from the Federation Account.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made this known at the Government House, Makurdi, when he received reports on illegal mining, illegal logging and illegal road blocks from the Joint Taskforce on the three illicit activities.
Alia said in spite of huge mineral deposits, Benue State was yet to gain federal attention or be included in the revenue sharing formula.
Rather, according to him, some economic saboteurs were taking undue advantage of that lack of recognition to defraud the people of their economic endowment.
He expressed certainty that the reports of the taskforce would not only provide opportunity for government to change the ugly narrative and check activities of the economic saboteurs but would also provide the state with a road map to access the untapped economic potential for the benefit of all citizens.
The governor thanked the three committees for their due diligence to the terms of references given to them, promising that their reports would be carefully studied with a view to implementing the recommendations.
Coordinator of the three committees, Col.Fidelis Chileh,(Retd) emphasized the need for the Federal Government to consider Benue for the thirteen percent derivation and called for urgent recruitment and equipment of forest guards to protect biodiversity.
