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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Gov Ortom gets greenlight to borrow N18.225bn

    Gov Ortom gets greenlight to borrow N18.225bn

    Benue House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a request made by Gov. Samuel Ortom to borrow N18.225 billion from the Federal Government.

    Ortom asked for approval to take the loan to cushion the effect of repayment of bailout funds collected in 2015 and 2016.

    He told the House in a letter read by the Speaker, Mr Titus Uba, that the Federal Government had offered a bridging finance facility window for state governments to access such loans.

    He told the House also that the Federal Government provided funding windows (bailout) at the inception of his first term in 2015.

    The bailout, he explained, was to enable states to pull out of the recession occasioned by the crash in crude oil prices.

    Ortom explained further that the Federal Government had begun the deduction of the bailout funds, but suspend the monthly exercise to provide additional liquidity to states because of the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

    He told the House that deductions from state allocations in respect of the bailout funds and other interventions had been restored with a resultant funding gap for states.

    He stated that the Federal Government had, therefore, approved for the bridging finance facility to the tune of N656.112 billion for all the states to ameliorate the situation.

    The governor stated also that the amount approved for Benue was N18.225 billion with disbursement in six tranches at the interest rate of nine per cent per annum.

    He said the loan tenor would be 30-years with moratorium of two years and at monthly repayment mode.

    The governor therefore, appealed to the House to approve his request to enable him to continue to deliver dividends of democracy and implement policies and programmes contained in the 2021 budget and beyond.

    The House granted the governor’s request in a unanimous resolution.

  • Killers of Benue Catholic priest will be arrested – Ortom

    Killers of Benue Catholic priest will be arrested – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has assured that the killers of Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Ngugban would be arrested and prosecuted.

    Ortom made the promise in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    Ngugban, the assistant parish priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, was killed on Tuesday inside the Parish house.

    Ortom who condemned the act, assured that the killers of the priest would be brought to justice.

    “I reassure the people of Katsina-Ala and Sankera that the State Government will not relent until those responsible for the killing and other attacks in the area are brought to justice,” he said.

    The governor described the attack as “mindless and wonders why a harmless priest would become the target of armed men.”

    He reaffirmed the resolve of his administration not to handover the state to criminals and urged Benue people to continue to support security operatives with timely and useful information.

    Ortom sympathised with the bereaved family and prayed that God grants the soul of Ngugban eternal rest.

  • IGP orders full investigation into attack on Benue Governor

    IGP orders full investigation into attack on Benue Governor

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered full-scale investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and reported attempt on the life of Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue.

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Orton was reportedly attacked on Saturday in his farm at the outskirts of Makurdi, the State Capital.

    Mba said that the I-G condemned the incident and directed the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Benue to strengthen and improve security in the state, particularly around the Governor.

    He said that the I-G had also directed the CP to carry out painstaking investigations into the incident and ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons indicted in the course of the investigations.

    According to him, to ensure a speedy, thorough and conclusive investigations into the matter, the I-G has ordered the immediate deployment of a team of specialised investigators from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).

    He said that the deployment was to provide additional investigative support to the Police Command in Benue.

    Mba called for calm and pledged the commitment of the Force to continue to do its best in stabilising the security situation in the country.

    He said that the force would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to advance the fight against violent crimes and other criminal activities across the country.

  • Northern Governors Forum condemns attack on Gov. Ortom

    Northern Governors Forum condemns attack on Gov. Ortom

    The Northern Governors Forum on Sunday condemned Saturday’s attack on Benue’s Gov. Samuel Ortom’ motorcade by bandits as disturbing.

    Bandits attacked Gov. Ortom’s motorcade on Saturday at Tyo-Mu community near Makurdi.

    Chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said the incident must be investigated thoroughly.

    Lalong said in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham in Jos that the attack was another attempt by criminals to cause mayhem in Benue and in the nation as a whole.

    He tasked all relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to fish out those behind the attack and their sponsors

    He commended security details attached to the governor for repelling the attack and securing Ortom and members of his entourage.

    The chairman of the forum said that all hands must be on deck to address the lingering degeneration of security in the country as it threatened its corporate existence.

    Lalong said governors in the northern part of Nigeria were in solidarity with their colleague and the entire people of Benue State.

    He assured that they would continue to engage and support security agencies in their duty of securing the region and nation.

  • I’m not in Benue to romance any criminal – New CP

    I’m not in Benue to romance any criminal – New CP

    The new Benue State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Audu Madaki, says he is not in the state to romance any criminal.

    Madaki, who stated this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Samuel Ortom, warned that whosoever contravened any law would be prosecuted accordingly.

    The 35th commissioner of police in the state said that all criminals would be punished in accordance with the laws of the land.

    He said that since assumption of office on Feb. 22, he had put in place a robust crime prevention mechanism, aimed at mitigating criminality in the state.

    Madaki also said that he has ordered improved surveillance around the houses of all VIPs in the state, as a way of preventing possible cases of kidnapping.

    While assuring the governor and people of the state of practical policing under his leadership, the police commissioner said that he would ensure enthronement of rule of law, while jungle justice of any kind would not be condoned.

    In his remarks, Ortom assured security agencies operating in the state of his administration’s continued support for the safety of lives and property.

    Ortom said that his administration would not interfere in the cause of security agencies delivering on their mandates.

    He also acknowledged the competence of the new CP to deliver on his assignment, based on his credentials.

    The governor commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) for sending such an experienced officer to the state.

    He tasked security operatives on professionalism and respect for human rights, even as he commended the joint security outfit, codenamed: ‘Operation Zenda’ for its strides in dealing with security.

    Madaki, before his posting to Benue, had served as CP in Adamawa Command and CP Welfare, Force Headquarters, Abuja, among others.

  • Benue: Ortom tests negative for COVID-19 again

    Benue: Ortom tests negative for COVID-19 again

    The Benue State Government on Wednesday said that Gov. Samuel Ortom had again tested negative for COVID-19.

    This is contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase in Makurdi.

    The governor admitted that though he tested negative for COVID-19 on Dec. 14, 2020, some of his close aides, however, tested positive.

    He said the development made it necessary for him to go into isolation as the NCDC protocol demands.

    The statement also urged the people of the state to go for the test and know their COVID-19 status.

    It added that by doing so, they would be complementing government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic.

    He said that it was only by going for the test that the status of people could be determined and treated on time if their test returns positive.

    Akase quoting medical experts said that the second phase of the pandemic is deadlier and that it required the collaboration of everyone to contain it.

    He emphasised that COVID-19 is real.

    It is important that people should take preventive measures such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and washing of hands with soap and the use of sanitisers.

    The Benue Government has already made the wearing of facemasks compulsory in the state.

  • COVID-19: Benue govt. lifts ban on religious gathering

    COVID-19: Benue govt. lifts ban on religious gathering

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue on Wednesday lifted the ban on religious gatherings as a result of COVID-19.

    Ortom, who announced the lifting of the ban while briefing newsmen in Makurdi, said Church and Mosque services could now hold in the state beginning from Wednesday.

    The governor, however, stressed that the duration of service should not be more than one hour.

    “The Churches and Mosques are to hold standard services to accommodate fewer people.

    “Social distancing must be observed in all religious gatherings. Wearing of face masks is mandatory for all.

    “There must be water and soap for washing of hands. Also, alcohol based hand sanitisers must be kept for use by the people.

    “We are going to monitor what is happening in Churches and Mosques,” he said.

    He further said markets could open, but with strict observance of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol.

    “Here too, we will monitor as well to ensure compliance.

    “Burials and other ceremonies should not have more than 30 persons at a time.

    “Inter State border travels still remain closed except for transportation of essential services,” he said.

    He said civil servants from grade levels one to 12 in the state who were staying at home due to COVID-19 would resume work on June 8.

    “They are advised to observe all the preventive measures of COVID-19 while carrying out their duties.

    “All schools remain closed. We appreciate Benue people for their understanding and substantial compliance to all their directives,” the governor said.

  • COVID-19 infects NDLEA staff in Benue

    COVID-19 infects NDLEA staff in Benue

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has confirmed a fresh case of Covid-19 infection in the State.

    Ortom, who made the confirmation on Tuesday in Makurdi while briefing journalists, said the victim, Mr Edward Manger, a returnee from Kano worked with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    He said the victim came into the state from Kano towards the end of April.

    Ortom said the victim had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre in the outskirts of Makurdi for treatment.

    The State now has two cases,the first being a female returnee from the UK, who is currently quarantined at the National Hospital Abuja.

  • BREAKING: Gov Ortom, Deputy, Commissioner submit to Covid-19 test in Benue

    Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue, his Deputy, Mr Benson Abounu and the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr David Olofu on Thursday submitted voluntarily submitted themselves for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) test.

    In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Terver Akase in Makurdi, they submitted their samples to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    The statement quotes Ortom as saying “the decision to submit samples for the test was the right thing to do”.

    The governor, therefore, appealed to all Benue citizens to submit to the test and not wait for symptoms to manifest before going for it.

    According to Ortom, doing so will help to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the state.

    Ortom said:”there is no was shame in seeking to know your Covid-19 status”.

    He urged the people to cooperate with the COVID-19 Action Committee at the state and local government levels, while observing the preventive measures against the pandemic.

  • Ortom reveals name of coronavirus patient in Benue

    Ortom reveals name of coronavirus patient in Benue

    The Benue Government on Saturday announced the state’s first case of COVID-19 in Makurdi, the state capital.

    Gov Samuel Ortom made the announcement at a press briefing in Makurdi shortly after an emergency meeting of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), on COVID-19.

    Ortom said that the victim, one Ms Susan Ukpe, who tested positive to the coronavirus pandemic, was already quarantined at the isolation centre in Benue Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

    Ortom explained that the SERT for COVID-19 discovered her where she was receiving treatment in a hospital in Makurdi and took her sample for test where the result came positive.

    He said that Ukpe was among the eight persons that came back from countries with high prevalent rates of the viral disease.

    He said that her sample was taken along another suspect, but only hers came out positive.

    “The decision to announce her name is to notify people who have come in contact with her to come out for test or to go for self isolation for the next 14 days.

    “All the staff of the hospital where she was receiving treatment, as well as friends and family members, will be on isolation to prevent possible spread,” he said.

    Ortom disclosed that the response team would also carry out contact tracing to ensure that the virus did not spread.

    He announced that all major markets in the state would be closed as from Monday, March 30, till further notice, and urged the public to restock their kitchens.

    He said that shops would, in the interim, be allowed to operate.

    Ortom said he would make a state broadcast on Monday to announce stiffer measures already approved by the government.

    According to Ortom, the state may close its borders as from next week.

    The governor also announced the suspension of all religious gatherings, including Church services and Muslim prayers.

    “We are taking all these measures in the interest of all Benue citizens. We have no option but to take these measures.

    “We are encouraging people to obey social distance, and observe strict compliance to all advices as instructed by relevant authorities.

    “No more weddings; burial should not have more than 30 people. Only altar weddings are allowed for now.”

    The governor further said that he had advised his deputy, Benson Abounu, to go for the COVID-19 test, adding that he would also avail himself for the test.

    He said that government had made available funds for the procurement of safety kits and other necessary items, but regretted that such products were nowhere in the market.

    Ortom pleaded with Benue citizens residing in other states or outside the country to remain in their locations untill further notice.