Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has stirred controversy with the approval of N2,040,780,000 for the purchase of vehicles, including those for himself, his Deputy, House of Assembly members, and other government officials in the state. This expenditure, sanctioned on September 5, 2023, is part of a series of questionable expenses by the governor, amounting to over N40 billion in just five months.
Financial records obtained exposed the allocation of funds for various purposes, including construction and rehabilitation projects. The document outlined the allocation of N2,040,780,000 as an anticipatory approval for the procurement of vehicles, with sources within the state government expressing concerns over the governor’s spending practices.
In response to the revelations, a government source stated, “Recent developments have however proven that Governor Alia has not been telling Benue people the truth. To describe his government as wasteful is to be kind to him. What is happening with Benue’s resources under the watch of Governor Alia is worse than a locust.”
The report disclosed that Governor Alia spent substantial amounts within four months in office, awarding contracts, some of which were deemed fictitious. The concerns further highlighted a lack of ongoing projects despite significant financial allocations.
Among the controversial expenditures, the governor approved N1.2 billion on the same day for the procurement of refurbished 2017/2016 Hummer buses and fairly used Hilux 2018/2019 model vehicles. The company allegedly receiving the award is said to have ties to the governor’s associates.
Additionally, on September 28, 2023, the Alia government reportedly released N2,236,000,000 (N2.2 billion) to the same company for the procurement of refurbished Hummer buses and Toyota Hilux vehicles, with the number of vehicles unspecified in the third approval.
Further scrutiny of the financial records revealed payments for unrelated expenses, including N3,551,820.00 for accountants to attend a professional development program and N65 million for the replacement of a generator at the Government House in Makurdi. These revelations have raised concerns about financial transparency and accountability in the governor’s administration.
