By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
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 across the state.
The report was formally presented on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, by the Chairman of the Commission, Justice S. Itodo (rtd.).
Governor Alia, who was unavailable at 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.
The documents comprised the Inspection Report, Volume II; Record of Proceedings, Volume I; and the Commission’s Report, Volume III, covering the various stages of the Commission’s assignment between 2024 and 2026.
Receiving the reports, Ode commended Justice Itodo and members of the Commission for their service, describing their assignment as a patriotic responsibility undertaken in the interest of Benue State.
The Deputy Governor stressed the importance of proper documentation and record-keeping in governance, noting that government serves as the custodian of institutional memory.
According to him, the actions and inactions of public officials are preserved in official records and could eventually become subjects of accountability.
Ode therefore urged public and civil servants to discharge their duties diligently and responsibly, stressing that “there is always a time for reckoning.”
He also acknowledged the challenges encountered by the Commission during its assignment and, on behalf of Governor Alia, apologised for any shortcomings or lapses experienced in the course of the exercise.
He assured the Commission that the state government would carefully study the report and work towards producing a White Paper to guide its full implementation.
The Deputy Governor added that the report would be transmitted to the Governor, the State Executive Council and other relevant authorities for further consideration and action.
Ode further commended the Commission for its contribution to the history and development of the state, particularly its efforts to safeguard the interests of the people of Benue.
Earlier, Justice Itodo explained that the Commission was established following concerns over the management, documentation and utilisation of government assets accumulated under successive administrations.
He said the assets were located in various parts of the state, while inadequate records and management had limited their capacity to generate revenue and contribute meaningfully to the development of Benue.
According to him, the Commission’s principal mandate was to reconcile the state’s assets, determine those being effectively managed and identify those that were underperforming, with a view to providing government with a clear basis for their proper management.
Justice Itodo subsequently handed over the Commission’s reports to the Deputy Governor for onward transmission to Governor Alia and the state government.
