By Nelson Ogbu
Benue State Government has added two more weeks to the curfew earlier imposed to curtail the spread of the novel CORONAVIRUS and called on the people of the state to tolerate the measures in the the best interest of all.
Governor Samuel Ortom who announced this after a joint meeting of the State Executive Council and the State COVID-19 Committee said that the measures were targeted at bringing virus to an end in Benue.
He said it was apparent that economic recession was imminent and advised the people to prepare for massive farming by utilizing every available space within their surrounding area.
The Governor announced the setting up of a strategic committee, headed by himself, to be chaired by Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu and including exco members as well as other technical committee to look at the entire agricultural value chain for maximum results.
Meanwhile, Governor Ortom also announced slashing of the state’s 2020 budget to N119 billion to reflect the current realities which is to be communicated to the state assembly for necessary action.
The government had earlier budgeted N195 billion for this fiscal year.
