The Benue State Government has said that the Hyacinth Alia-led administration has not borrowed any money internally or externally since its inauguration on May 29, 2023.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula disclosed this in a Sunday statement.
“We read a report in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, March 31st, 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.
“The analysis according to the reporter, is based on the latest sub-national debt reports released by the Debts Management Office (DMO).
“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 read in part.
Kula said that all debts mentioned in the said report were incurred before the Governor Hyacinth Alia led administration took over on May 29th, 2023.
“Let it be known that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is skeptical of borrowings, and will only do so when and if it becomes necessary and it is in the interest of the Benue people, especially to fund critical projects.
“We challenge the Punch Newspaper reporter to be more investigative in his reports, providing accurate facts, which is a key component of journalism practice,” the statement further read.