Benue State Ministry of Information and Orientation

INCUMBENT

Current Executive Governor May 29, 2023 — Present

Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia

Executive Governor of Benue State • Deputy: Dr.Barr. Sam Ode, mni

Leading Benue State into a new era of unprecedented economic revival, infrastructural transformation of the state capital and local governments, agricultural industrialization, regular payment of pensions and civil service salaries, and peace-building under the Strategic 7-Point Agenda.

Executive Council Benue State Overview

Roll of Honour

Governors & Military Leaders (1976 – 2023)

#1 • Military Nigerian Army

Col. Abdullahi Shelleng

Governor

March 1976 – July 1978

1976 — 1978

Tenure Period 1976 — 1978

Party / Affiliation Nigerian Army

Deputy / Second Not Applicable

Administration Profile

Col. Abdullahi Shelleng was the pioneer Military Governor of Benue State following its historic creation from the former Benue-Plateau State by the Federal Military Government of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed on 3 February 1976. He established the foundational government ministries, laid out the administrative framework in Makurdi as state capital, and set up the pioneer Benue State civil service structure.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Laid the foundational administrative machinery of Benue State. • Established pioneer government ministries and civil service departments in Makurdi. • Commenced urban planning and demarcation of government lands in the new state capital.

#2 • Military Nigerian Air Force

Group Capt. Adebayo Hamed Lawal

Governor

July 1978 – October 1979

1978 — 1979

Tenure Period 1978 — 1979

Party / Affiliation Nigerian Air Force

Deputy / Second Not Applicable

Administration Profile

Group Captain Adebayo Lawal served as the second Military Governor of Benue State. His administration was focused on rural basic healthcare, expanding secondary education across rural divisions, and successfully conducting the democratic transition elections of 1979 that ushered in Nigeria's Second Republic.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Expanded secondary schools and teacher training colleges across the state. • Spearheaded rural basic health clinics in divisional headquarters. • Supervised a peaceful and seamless handover to the first democratically elected civilian administration.

#3 • Civilian National Party of Nigeria (NPN)

Mr. Aper Aku

Executive Governor

October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983

Deputy: Alhaji Isa Odoma / Chief E. Sule

1979 — 1983

Tenure Period 1979 — 1983

Party / Affiliation National Party of Nigeria (NPN)

Deputy / Second Alhaji Isa Odoma / Chief E. Sule

Administration Profile

Mr. Aper Aku was the first democratically elected civilian Governor of Benue State. Renowned as the visionary architect of modern Benue industrialization, his visionary tenure established core industrial assets, major agro-processing plants, urban road networks, and educational institutions that remain monuments of the state.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Established Benue Brewery Limited (BBL), Makurdi (brewers of More Lager Beer). • Built Taraku Oil Mills — one of West Africa's largest vegetable oil processing plants. • Established Idah Fertilizer Company, Benue Burnt Bricks (Otukpo), and Benue Bottling Company. • Constructed the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, and developed modern Benue Hotels. • Vastly expanded primary, secondary, and technical education across all local government areas.

#4 • Military Nigerian Army

Brigadier. John Atom Kpera

Governor

January 1984 – August 1985

1984 — 1985

Tenure Period 1984 — 1985

Party / Affiliation Nigerian Army

Deputy / Second Not Applicable

Administration Profile

Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera was the first indigenous military officer of Benue State to serve as its Governor. His administration was recognized for uncompromising fiscal discipline, environmental cleanliness, civil service probity, and the maintenance of public infrastructure in Makurdi and other major towns.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Instituted widespread fiscal pruning and cleared backlog of government liabilities. • Enforced civic sanitation and urban beautification in the state capital. • Instilled discipline, meritocracy, and punctuality across the Benue civil service.

#5 • Military Nigerian Air Force

Air Commodore. David Jonah Jang

Governor

August 1985 – August 1986

1985 — 1986

#6 • Military Nigerian Army

Colonel. Yohanna Anteyan Madaki

Governor

August 1986 – September 1986

1986 — 1986

#7 • Military Nigerian Army

Colonel. Ishaya Bakut

Governor

September 1986 – December 1987

1986 — 1987

#8 • Military Nigerian Army

Colonel. Idris Garba

Governor

December 1987 – December 1988

1987 — 1988

#9 • Military Nigerian Army

Lt. Colonel Fidelis Makka

Governor

December 1988 – January 1992

1988 — 1992

Tenure Period 1988 — 1992

Party / Affiliation Nigerian Army

Deputy / Second Not Applicable

Administration Profile

Lt. Colonel Fidelis Makka stands out as one of the most prolific builders among military governors in Benue State. His administration transformed the urban landscape of Makurdi with landmark civic institutions, transport systems, and administrative complexes that remain in active public use today.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Founded Benue Links Nigeria Limited (the state mass transit transport corporation). • Completed and commissioned the Modern Aper Aku Stadium Complex. • Constructed the Makurdi International Modern Market. • Built the modern State Library complex and reconstructed the Benue Government House. • Constructed the iconic IBB Square in Makurdi.

#10 • Civilian Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu

Executive Governor

January 2, 1992 – November 17, 1993

Deputy: Dr. Yakubu Agada

1992 — 1993

Tenure Period 1992 — 1993

Party / Affiliation Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Deputy / Second Dr. Yakubu Agada

Administration Profile

Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu made history as the first Catholic priest in Nigeria to be elected Executive Governor. A visionary intellectual and compassionate leader, his administration is celebrated above all for founding the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi — the first state-owned university in Northern Nigeria.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Founded Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi in 1992. • Conceptualized the modernization of the Tor Tiv Palace in Gboko. • Initiated the Benue Fruit and Juice Processing Company. • Established community health schemes and visionary scholarship programs. • Championed peaceful communal coexistence and moral reorientation.

#11 • Military Nigerian Air Force

Group Captain. Joshua Obademi

Military Administrator

December 1993 – August 1996

1993 — 1996

#12 • Military Nigerian Army

Colonel. Aminu Isa Kontagora

Military Administrator

August 1996 – August 1998

1996 — 1998

#13 • Military Nigerian Army

Brigadier General. Dominic Oneya

Military Administrator

August 1998 – May 29, 1999

1998 — 1999

Tenure Period 1998 — 1999

Party / Affiliation Nigerian Army

Deputy / Second Not Applicable

Administration Profile

Colonel Dominic Oneya was the final military administrator of Benue State. A consummate military professional, he successfully supervised the 1998–1999 transition program to civil democratic governance, culminating in a historic and peaceful handover to the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Supervised successful, violence-free local government, state, and national elections. • Prepared a transparent transition blueprint and handed over smoothly to civilian leadership on May 29, 1999. • Maintained law and order throughout the transition period.

#14 • Civilian People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Senator Dr. George Akume

Executive Governor

May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007

Deputy: Chief Ogiri Ajene

1999 — 2007

Tenure Period 1999 — 2007

Party / Affiliation People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Deputy / Second Chief Ogiri Ajene

Administration Profile

Senator Dr. George Akume served two full terms as the pioneering Executive Governor of Benue State in Nigeria's Fourth Republic (1999–2007). He laid the administrative, judicial, and infrastructural foundations of modern Benue democracy, established the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and College of Health Sciences, and built major residential housing estates across Makurdi. (He later served as Senator representing Benue North-West, Senate Minority Leader, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation).

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Established the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and College of Health Sciences. • Built major housing estates: Nyiman Layout, Commissioners Quarters, Judges Quarters, and Assembly Quarters. • Constructed and dualized major township roads across Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Otukpo. • Vastly expanded rural electrification across hundreds of agrarian settlements. • Championed human capital development, prompt civil service employment, and local government empowerment.

#15 • Civilian People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam

Executive Governor

May 29, 2007 – May 29, 2015

Deputy: Chief Steven Lawani

2007 — 2015

Tenure Period 2007 — 2015

Party / Affiliation People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Deputy / Second Chief Steven Lawani

Administration Profile

Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam served two terms as Executive Governor between 2007 and 2015. His administration made massive investments in rural electrification, urban and inter-township road networks, regional water supply schemes, and the rehabilitation of primary schools through SUBEB.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Constructed the Greater Makurdi Water Works, Otobi Water Works, and Katsina-Ala Water Works. • Extensively reconstructed urban road networks in Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo, and Katsina-Ala. • Electrified over 400 rural communities across Benue State. • Constructed modern classroom blocks across thousands of public primary and junior secondary schools. • Constructed the modern Governor's Lodge in Abuja and built new High Court complexes.

#16 • Civilian APC/PDP

Dr. Samuel Ortom

Executive Governor

May 29, 2015 – May 29, 2023

Deputy: Engr. Benson Abounu

2015 — 2023

Tenure Period 2015 — 2023

Party / Affiliation APC/PDP

Deputy / Second Engr. Benson Abounu

Administration Profile

Dr. Samuel Ortom served two terms as Executive Governor between 2015 and 2023. His tenure was defined by his historic defense of agrarian communities and food security, landmark legislation on land preservation, establishment of the state security outfit, and execution of urban and rural infrastructure projects.

Key Achievements & Legacy

• Enacted and enforced the landmark Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017). • Established the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards (BSCVG) for grassroots community policing. • Constructed major inter-township roads and bridge links including the Oshigbudu-Obagaji road. • Executed widespread infrastructural improvements across tertiary educational institutions in the state. • Championed humanitarian support for displaced farming families.

Explore Further

Other Pillars of Benue Governance & Heritage

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More About Benue

Past Governors of Benue State

Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia

Governors & Military Leaders (1976 – 2023)

Col. Abdullahi Shelleng

Group Capt. Adebayo Hamed Lawal

Mr. Aper Aku

Brigadier. John Atom Kpera

Air Commodore. David Jonah Jang

Colonel. Yohanna Anteyan Madaki

Colonel. Ishaya Bakut

Colonel. Idris Garba

Lt. Colonel Fidelis Makka

Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu

Group Captain. Joshua Obademi

Colonel. Aminu Isa Kontagora

Brigadier General. Dominic Oneya

Senator Dr. George Akume

Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam

Dr. Samuel Ortom

Other Pillars of Benue Governance & Heritage

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Past Governors of Benue State

Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia

Governors & Military Leaders (1976 – 2023)

Col. Abdullahi Shelleng

Group Capt. Adebayo Hamed Lawal

Mr. Aper Aku

Brigadier. John Atom Kpera

Air Commodore. David Jonah Jang

Colonel. Yohanna Anteyan Madaki

Colonel. Ishaya Bakut

Colonel. Idris Garba

Lt. Colonel Fidelis Makka

Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu

Group Captain. Joshua Obademi

Colonel. Aminu Isa Kontagora

Brigadier General. Dominic Oneya

Senator Dr. George Akume

Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam

Dr. Samuel Ortom

Other Pillars of Benue Governance & Heritage

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