Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue says the state government will award contracts for constructing 50 roads to be completed in the next 12 months.

Mr Alia announced this on Tuesday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) critical stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Makurdi.

He said the Ministry of Works and Urban Development was working on the details of the project, which was meant to ease the movement and transportation of agricultural produce to improve the economy.

He said the construction of the two underpass in Makurdi and Gboko would be completed in the coming months.

Mr Alia added that work on the 16 roads in Makurdi and within Zone A and the renovation of the 40-year-old state secretariat and assembly has reached 90 per cent completion.

The governor also said the administration would strive to address post-harvest losses so that farmers would smile at the bank.

Mr Alia added that in the coming weeks, the government would unveil a 10,000-person security outfit to improve security in the state.

He also said the long-abandoned student scholarship would be reintroduced in May.

Mr Alia told the APC stakeholders that Tiv traditional rulers had reconciled him with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

“We spoke from our hearts, and they advised us; they initiated peace that was near eluding us; I embraced my big brother, the SGF, and behold, there was peace.

“So, let no one from any quarter be deceived that APC in the state is divided, no we are not; under my leadership as a man of peace, there must be peace,” he added.

In his remarks, Senator Barnabas Gemade said elders in the state have unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the governor.

(NAN)