From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has announced the decision to slash the fee for the acquisition of Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) by half. This, he said, would enable Benue State indigenes acquire the document and use it to access loans for the purpose of doing business.
Governor Ortom stated this when he featured on a live interactive programme on Radio Nigeria (Harvest FM) Makurdi, where he maintained that people with landed property and in need of CofO should be encouraged to acquire same as such could be used as collateral to access loans for investment purposes.
Ortom, who posited that the decision would be formalised in the State Executive Council meeting, in no distant time, enjoined Benue people to explore investment opportunities which abound in the state.
Speaking on the industrialisation drive of his administration, Governor Ortom said in spite of the current financial challenges, the state was collaborating with local and foreign investors to either concession or revive the moribund industries.
He, however, called on Benue State indigenes, with the financial wherewithal, to come up and take over the affected industries and manage, saying government was willing to concession them or sell to deserving persons at affordable rates to stimulate the economy.
The Governor noted that welfare of staff remained his priority, assuring that with the declaration of state of emergency on payment of salaries, all avenues would be explored to clear arrears of workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities.
On agriculture, Governor Ortom further encouraged Benue farmers to widen their horizon to include Water Melon, Cucumber and Carrot farming, saying such crops were capable of generating high income for farmers.
He also encouraged Benue farmers to embrace dry season farming, saying massive clearing of land, timely provision of fertilizer at highly subsidised rates and a secured environment for farmers would be guaranteed for Benue people.
The governor, while appreciating the support and understanding of Benue people to his administration, promised to redouble his efforts towards developing the state that all would be happy to live in, adding that he would work at jet speed in the remaining part of his first tenure.
Different callers on the programme commended the Governor for his people-oriented leadership qualities especially in the areas of security, agriculture, education and health and urged him to sustain the tempo, while also appealing to him to give priority to payment of salaries and welfare of workers.