Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has received the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sale and Lease of Government Assets, Companies and Markets in the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice S. Itodo, Rtd., presented the report to the Governor at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Governor Alia, who was unavailable for the presentation, was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode mni, who received the documents on behalf of the Governor, the State Government and the people of Benue.
Dr. Ode acknowledged receipt of the Inspection Report, Volume II; Record of Proceedings, Volume I; and the Commission's Report, Volume III, covering the various stages of the assignment between 2024 and 2026.
He thanked Justice Itodo and members of the Commission for their service, describing the assignment as a patriotic responsibility undertaken in the interest of the state.
The Deputy Governor said the exercise had reinforced the importance of records in governance, stressing that government is the custodian of institutional memory and that the actions and inactions of public officials are preserved in official records and may ultimately become subjects of accountability.
He therefore urged public and civil servants to discharge their responsibilities diligently and creditably, noting that there is always a time for reckoning.
Dr. Ode acknowledged the challenges encountered by the Commission and, on behalf of Governor Alia, apologised for any shortcomings or lapses experienced during the assignment.
He assured the Commission that the State Government would study the report and work towards producing a White Paper for its full implementation, adding that it would transmit the report to the Governor, the State Executive Council and other relevant authorities for further action.
The Deputy Governor said the Commission had earned a place in the state's history through its work, particularly in protecting the interests of the people of Benue.
Earlier, Justice Itodo said the Commission was established against the backdrop of concerns over the management and documentation of government assets accumulated under successive administrations.
He said the assets were spread across various locations, with inadequate records and management affecting their ability to generate returns and add value to the state.
According to him, the Commission's principal mandate was to reconcile the state's assets, determine which were performing effectively and which were not, and provide a basis for the government to properly harness and manage them going forward.
The Chairman thereafter formally handed over the Commission's reports to the Deputy Governor for onward transmission to the Governor and the State Government.
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