Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Maurice Orwough, has called on the International community and donor agencies to continue supporting the local governments to address humanitarian challenges as a result of attacks by herdsmen in Benue communities.
The chairman also said the association is collaborating with security agencies to tackle insecurity at the grassroots level in the state.
Orwough who spoke while interacting with newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, highlighted the efforts by the Benue state government and ALGON to address insecurity in Benue, which has led to a significant reduction in killings and attacks.
The chairman appealed to the federal government to provide aid in building shelters for displaced persons and reconstructing schools, hospitals, and churches destroyed by herdsmen attacks.
He said additionally, ALGON has provided food items, including cows and rice, to internally displaced persons (IDPs) to ensure they celebrate the festive season with their families.
He pledged to work closely with Governor Hyacinth Alia to transform local government areas into a people-oriented grassroots development hub.
Orwough, who is also the chairman of Guma local government area, commended Governor Alia’s unprecedented development strides in the state and pledged that local government chairmen would replicate these efforts in their respective areas.
He also disclosed plans to renovate dilapidated structures in the local government secretariat, fix abandoned schools, and acquire tractors to support farmers.
He said within his short period in office, he focused on critical areas such as education, health, security, agriculture, and provision of water.
He attributed his actions to the local government autonomy championed by Governor Alia, which has provided the necessary impetus for faster development in local government areas.
He added that local government chairmen are ready to embrace autonomy, while urging those who are not committed to their duty posts to resign.