By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has denied allegations emanating from some quarters including a section of the media that his administration has borrowed money from either domestic or external sources.
Governor Alia who made the denial in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula in Makurdi while reacting to a report in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, March 31, 2024, wherein the reporter alleged that, 13 new state governors, including Benue, collectively borrowed N226.8bn from both domestic and external financiers, between the period of June and December 2023, described the report as false.
He explained that all debts mentioned in the said report were incurred before May 29, 2023 and not after he took over office as governor.
“We want to state emphatically that, the government of Rev. Fr. Alia has not borrowed any money from either domestic or external sources” the statement further clarified.
The governor challenged the Punch reporter who claimed his report was based on the latest sub-national debt reports released by the Debts Management Office, DMO to be more investigative in his reportage by providing accurate facts, which is a key component of responsible journalism practice.
Governor Alia revealed that his administration is skeptical of borrowings, but would only do so when and if it becomes necessary adding that this could be done only when it is in the interest of the Benue people, especially to fund critical projects.